'Move' for Miracles and make a difference to the 48,000 babies born premature or sick each year

One of Miracle Babies Foundation biggest events, Move for Miracles is only weeks away!

We encourage everyone to participate in our challenge to help raise vital funds for premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them. It’s easy, simply reach 48,000 steps (OR 36.5km) to support the 48,000 miracles born in Australia each year.

The challenge officially kicks off 30th September and ends on the 17th November which is World Prematurity Day.

Simply reach your goal on your own terms and raise money along the way. You can choose to walk, run, cycle or be creative, as long as you can log in steps or kilometres. Some possible ways to get moving include: Swimming for 45 mins, Skipping Rope for 60 mins (moderate), Mowing the Lawn for 75 mins, Dancing for 58 mins or Cycling for 63 mins (medium pace, 24km/h).

Every step or kilometre that you walk, run or ride will help premature and sick newborns and their families reach their full potential. Money raised goes toward our vital family support services and resources.

Our Ambassadors, Australian Cricketer Megan Schutt and her partner Jess Holyoake will be participating in Move for Miracles in honour of their daughter who was born prematurely.

Megan and Jess shared their story:

''Jess and I were super lucky to have fallen pregnant on our first attempt through reciprocal IVF, where Jess had my embryo successfully implanted. Although the process of choosing donor sperm and retrieving my eggs felt lengthy… the process from implantation, up until around 20 weeks was a rather smooth one.

At the 28 + 3 week mark, Jess was admitted into hospital after limited movement had her worried. On the day Rylee was born, 28 weeks + 6, on the 17th August 2021 - the morning of, we were told everything was fine and to continue our day. However, later that evening there was a spike in Rylee’s heart rate, causing alarm which meant our OB made the decision to take her out. 10pm that day, Rylee was born and let out a little scream, much to our surprise.

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From birth, she registered good APGAR scores and was never on oxygen. She went from C-PAP to Optiflow within a few days and spent most of her time in hospital simply putting own weight and growing. Two weeks later, she graduated from NICU to SCBU - which was a welcomed change of the hustle and bustle that is the intensive care unit.

On the 8th of October, with Rylee technically at 36 weeks weeks gestation, we left the hospital for the first time. We were finally able to be a family and our life outside of the Women’s and Children’s had begun.

Miracle Babies Foundation provided bags with books and other goodies that were a great start to our life outside of hospital. The countless support they provide to the many families in need is incredible - in a time when everything seems overwhelming, you know there’s a place you can turn to for help. I’m honoured to be an ambassador for such a foundation and I hope that I can raise awareness and support.

Our journey was a crazy one, that brought Jess and I closer together - I couldn’t be more thankful of where we all are now and I’m so glad I get to share my experiences with other people."

Both Jess and Megan will support us once again this year and we are very grateful to have their support in our Move for Miracles Challenge.

 

Funds raised through Move for Miracles will go toward supporting families through our NurtureProgram, including our NurtureLine (24 Hour Family Support Line), NurtureTime (in-hospital emotional support) and NurtureGroups (community play and support groups, for after discharge). Your support will also help continued distribution of our family NurtureProgram Resources, via hospitals.

Wanna join our Move for Miracles Challenge? Click below to sign up today.

Move for Miracles Virtual Challenge