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Verity

Premmie Marathon Challenge 2026

I'm running 71km to celebrate my baby, Jack.

My happy, strong, gorgeous, boy, now 5 years old and full of life. My most precious gift; he is the reason for my every day, the reason why I am taking part in this challenge.

My Progress

I've raised

$2,285

I've Moved

39KM

My Target

71KM

Our Story

I was flown down to Brisbane at 26 weeks in suspected early labour. After multiple steroid shots and rounds of magnesium, my son, Jack, was born via emergency c-section at 27 weeks, due to a dangerous drop in heartrate.  
He spent a little over 6 weeks in NICU, then 7 weeks in Special Care, down at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, while I stayed at Ronald McDonald House. We were then flown back to Roma, where we spent another few days, before being given the go ahead to finally go home at 14 weeks old. 
It was a tough and unnatural feeling journey, with many ups and downs.  Every gram gained and feed kept down was celebrated.  Every day's cuddle was sacred. 
At first, Jack was in a special humidicrib, which mimics the womb.  It helped to regulate his temperature, keep the air around him humid to help his skin, and protect him from loud noises, bright lights and infection.  I remember the first time I saw him, and I just couldn't comprehend that that tiny little baby, all covered in wires and tubes and inside this little isolette, was mine. It just didn't seem right.  It wasn't right.  He should have still been with me, inside me, protected and growing, instead of having to fight for survival.
It was a few days before he was stable enough to be held, and that was the most precious moment.  From then on, he was limited to 1 cuddle a day while in NICU, if stable, to prevent over stimulation and to let him rest and grow.
At a little over 6 weeks old he was finally strong enough to breathe unassisted and allowed to wear his first clothes!  Seeing his face completely free, and him in clothes, was amazing!  That was when he graduated to Special Care.  There was much more freedom there, as I was able to pick him up and cuddle him as much as I wanted, without having to ask a nurse.  Having to ask permission to hold your own child, feels so completely wrong, and I absolutely made up for lost time then and held him for as many hours of the day as I could, every day. 
Feeding was his next struggle.  He tried and tried but just got so tired so quickly.  When he finally had his first full feed by mouth, I was over the moon. It had felt like a long time coming, but it was so worth it.  After another couple of weeks, the feeding tube was gone and we were finally back transferred to Roma and on the home straight.  The most incredible yet terrifying feeling, being allowed to have full, 100% care of him, without any medical staff around.  
Our journey didn't stop once we got home. We had many appointments for a fair while, weekly to start with, but now, 5 years on, he thankfully, has been discharged from nearly everything.  He is such a happy, active, gorgeous little boy, you wouldn't know he had such a tough start.  He is the most incredible little human, and I am so grateful he is mine.

The care and support we received while going through this journey, was beyond amazing.  I am forever grateful for every single person who helped us, in even the tiniest of ways.  
The NICU nurses are on another level.  They do such an incredible job, and I really hope they always get the recognition they deserve, for taking the best care of our tiny fighters.  

I'm finally in a better place mentally, and so this year I am trying to give back what I can, by completing this challenge.  I'm running not just for Jack, but for his other premmie friends and all the premature babies born each and every day.  

I would be so incredibly grateful for any donations to try and help support these tiny fighters while they grow strong enough to hopefully make their way home.

Every day in Australia, 71 babies are born prematurely.

This November, I'm taking on the Premmie Marathon Challenge to give these babies the best chance at life.

The funds I raise will help Running for Premature Babies provide life-saving neonatal equipment for hospitals around Australia, giving premature and critically ill babies the chance to grow stronger and go home with their families.


If you're able to support me, I'd be incredibly grateful. Every donation helps fund the equipment and research that gives premature babies a better chance of survival and quality of life.

Thank you for supporting my challenge and helping Australia's tiniest babies. 💜

Please help me
reach my goal

Raised

$2,286

My goal

$1,850

Select an amount to donate

$33
$33 - Helps monitor a baby’s vitals for 3 critical days, tracking heart rate, oxygen, and breathing.
$61
$61 - Helps provide 1 full day of specialised respiratory support in a humidicrib.
$112
$112 - Helps provide 7 days of temperature-controlled care in a humidicrib, giving a baby a safe place to grow.
$286
$286 - Helps provide 14 days of life-saving ventilator support to help a premature baby breathe.
$526
$526 - Helps provide 10 days of comprehensive NICU care, combining ventilation, monitoring, and incubator support.

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My achievements

Thank you to my donors

$216.50

Janine Phillips

$119.56

Jessica

You are a wonderful and strong woman Verity. Can’t wait to see Jack again.

$119.56

Catherine Jones

Amazing Verity!

$119.56

Verity Jones

$119.56

Tammy Vidler

$119.56

Tammy Vidler

$119.56

Anonymous

$119.56

Rowly And Jenny

Well run Verity ❤️

$119.56

Krystle

$119.56

Annie Hill

What a journey you and Jack have been through and to see you both coming through it now and taking up this challenge to give back to those that helped you and all the premmie babies that need so much love and care in those early days/months is credit to your strength and we are cheering you on every day x

$119.56

Jordan Riley

<3

$106.75

Dawn And Clem

$106.75

Jimmy, George & Kiddos Xx

You’re absolutely smashing it!

$106.75

Generous Supporters

Your donation has been MATCHED, doubling your IMPACT for premature babies.

$67.80

Ian And Helen Brindley

$67.80

Veronica Mctegg

Well done Verity ❤️ Love to Jack also❤️

$67.80

Larissa

$67.80

Angie Potter

$66.33

Sheryn Hanna

Well done Verity running for a cause close to your heart ❤️ and little Jack!

$61

Sara And Lachlan

$61

Anonymous

$55.95

Sue Herrmann

You got this girl and be careful of all the wildlife out there 😀🐄🐖🐇🐎🐨🦅🐍🕷

$37.72

Michelle

Our team

Every day, 71 babies are born prematurely in Australia