Running for life

Running for Premature Babies
Caring. Authentic. Humble.

Sophie Smith responded to the grief of losing her prematurely born triplet by founding a running group that has raised more than $3.5 million lifesaving neonatal equipment and research.

In 2016, Sophie and her late husband, Ash, became parents to triplets, Jasper, Henry and Evan. Tragically, despite huge efforts to save their lives at the Royal Hospital for Women, they did not survive.

After their babies passed away Sophie & Ash were heartbroken but determined that something good could come from their sons’ short lives.

They decided to run a half marathon to raise $20,000 for one new humidicrib for the hospital. Six months later, their team of 98 ran the SMH Marathon, raising $80,000, and Sophie decided she wanted to continue to run and fundraise, to give premature babies a better chance of survival.

“Channelling my grief in this way gave me a renewed sense of purpose,” says Sophie.

Two years after losing their triplets, when their fourth son, Owen, was six months, Ash was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. He was only 35.

“Focusing on something bigger than our own personal challenges helped us through,” Sophie says. Sadly Ash passed away in 2016. Since then Sophie has grown the charity to support hospitals around the country.

So far, her charity has helped approximately 6000 babies, funding critical research and providing 56 pieces of donated equipment.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Running for Premature Babies will use its grant to grow their running communities and increase funding for lifesaving equipment to give premature babies a better chance of survival.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here

Photo courtesy of: John Appleyard/ News Local