Get your walking shoes ready as the Walk for Prems returns to Brighton this month.
The annual 5km family-friendly walk is packed with entertainment, children’s activities, food trucks, a jumping castle, prizes and more, making it an exciting day out for everyone.
Now in its 16th year, Walk for Prems is the biggest annual fundraiser for Life’s Little Treasures Foundation (LLTF). Held in locations across Australia, the event raises vital funds to support families with premature or sick babies. In Australia, one in seven newborns requires life-saving care, and for the past 20 years, LLTF has provided guidance, comfort and essential resources.
Mellissa Ikitoelagi, Queensland State Coordinator for LLTF and organiser of the Brighton Walk for Prems, knows first-hand how important this support is. Mellissa’s daughter was born 11 weeks early and spent 76 days in neonatal intensive and special care units.
“During this incredibly vulnerable and challenging time, I was supported by Life’s Little Treasures Foundation,” Mellissa said. “This ignited a desire to give back and support families on this emotional and often isolating journey.”
For the past three years, Mellissa has dedicated herself to supporting Queensland families, ensuring hospitals have access to vital resources, providing peer support, presenting seminars, running online support groups and organising the local leg of LLTF’s largest annual fundraiser.
“It provides a meaningful opportunity for families who have welcomed a premature or sick baby, along with their supporters and the wider community, to come together and celebrate the incredible milestones these little fighters achieve and raise much-needed funds to support families,” she said.
“The event not only honours these journeys but also offers a space for connection by bringing together families who have shared similar experiences. Importantly, it’s a time to acknowledge and remember the precious babies who sadly lost their fight, ensuring their memories are never forgotten.”
New Milestone, New Chalenge
To celebrate LLTF’s 20th anniversary, this year includes the introduction of the Mighty Trek Challenge, which will see an incubator pushed 900km in 20 locations from Sydney to Melbourne.
Walk for Prems registration is $25 per adult ($20 for children) and includes a race bib, medal, information pack and entry into the prize draw. As part of your registration, you’re welcome to arrive earlier on event day and complete extra laps as part of The Mighty Trek Challenge.
Whether you’re an individual, family or business, everyone is welcome. And if you can’t attend in person, you can still join virtually by taking on the Mighty Trek Challenge anytime, anywhere in October.
Every entrant helps LLTF continue their work supporting families with premature or sick babies.
Registration tent opens at 7am, event closes at 2pm. Register or find more information here.
Walk for Prems
- Sunday, 19 October
- Decker Park
- Twenty Fifth Ave, Brighton
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