Premmie Baby Events

Run the half Marathon to celebrate your child’s life – and help save other premature babies

Why run the half marathon?
Sophie Smith is looking for people who would like to join her team to run the 21.1km Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon on 16 May and help raise funds for the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation’s ‘Henry, Jasper & Evan Smith Trust Fund’ in memory of her baby triplet sons.

In memory of Sophie & Ash’s babies – Henry, Jasper & Evan
In 2006 Sophie & husband Ash became parents to beautiful triplet sons, Henry, Jasper & Evan. However when their babies arrived prematurely, weighing less than a kilo each, they knew they had a long fight ahead of them. They received incredible care from the dedicated doctors and nurses in the Royal’s Newborn Intensive Care Centre, and fought bravely to live. Tragically the boys were unable to overcome their prematurity – tiny Henry lived for just one hour, Evan for ten days and Jasper for 58 days. After the deaths of their three sons, Ash and Sophie desperately wanted something to keep their memory alive. So to honour their memory, the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation set up a special Trust Fund in their names. This Trust is dedicated to raising much needed funds for life-saving equipment for the 900 premature and critically ill babies who are cared for in the Newborn Intensive Care Centre each year.

Sophie is honoured that the Trust Fund is a permanent memorial to her little boys, and she is very proud that that her triplets’ legacy gives other premature babies a chance to live.

What the teams have achieved to date
Each May since Sophie’s little boys passed away she has organised a fund-raising team to run the SMH Half Marathon. Each year she has been overwhelmed by the generous support they have received from sponsors and runners. Over the past 3 years 265 people have run with her, and an incredible $300,000 has been raised for the ‘Henry, Jasper & Evan Smith Trust Fund’. This money has bought ten humidicribs and two neo-natal monitors, equipment that is vital to the survival of premature babies.

Why join their team?
This year Sophie is hoping to gather her biggest team yet, so please join her by running to celebrate the life of a child born prematurely or in memory of a premature baby who has passed away. Apart from helping to save the tiniest and sickest babies in New South Wales, they have a lot of fun too. Professional trainers from PRAMfit offer fantastic fortnightly training sessions in Centennial Park on Sunday mornings to help get you motivated and fit, and Wednesday evening group runs are also organised. Sophie organises social get-togethers in the lead up to 16 May and of course a team after-party for survivors! You will also receive a free high quality team running singlet, kindly provided by the Coogee Palace.

There is no minimum amount you have to raise and you don’t have to be an elite athlete to join them. Simply dust off your trainers and join the team to get in shape for 16 May.

If you are running in memory of your own baby or a baby in your family
If you want to join Sophie’s team to run for your own child, or a child in your family, who was not able to overcome their prematurity, she can arrange for you to have a free personalised running singlet, with your baby’s name printed on your shirt.

What past runners have to say

“How lucky we were in 2001 to have our precious daughter, Grace, survive despite being born at 24 weeks. Eight years later, I ran the half marathon to be as brave and courageous as she has been and to raise funds to help save the lives of many more babies like her.” Belinda (Team 2009)

“The high of completing the physical and mental challenge of the half marathon lasted for weeks! Joining Sophie and her wonderful team was a special experience that provided amazing training support, lasting friendship and the motivation to achieve a great result.” Carolyn (Teams 2007/2008/2009)

“I had never been a runner and hadn’t done any physical exercise for some time. I trained with Sophie’s group, got fit, felt great, dropped 8 kilos and ran a Half Marathon – the best experience I’d had in years” Mick (Team 2009)

“By far one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever enjoyed has been completing the half-marathon with Sophie and all our friends. While it may appear daunting at first you quickly find it is not that hard and the reward is immense. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone. Challenging, rewarding and, oh yeah, you get very fit pretty quickly for an excellent cause. It’s the perfect New Year resolution.” Gerard (Teams 2007, 2008, 2009)

“I felt so proud being part of the HJE half marathon team, running in memory of Soph & Ash’s precious boys. Raising money for the RHW now has even more relevance as I’m about to become a mum for the first time at the RHW. It gives me great comfort knowing I have contributed towards life-saving equipment that my baby might need.” Sarah (Team 2007/2008)

“I’m so happy I got involved 4 years ago as I have run with Sophie every year since. At first was a daunting challenge, as I had never run a half marathon. But it is so rewarding knowing we are running for such an important cause with a great group of people.”Rupert (Teams 2007/2008/2009)

If you are not able to run… please consider making a tax-deductible donation, however small. Donations can be made HERE

If you would like to join Sophie’s Team please contact her on
0410 620 149, or henry.jasper.evan@gmail.com