‍Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Life’s Little Treasures Foundation

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The Walk for Prems - The Mighty Trek Challenge is a bold new fundraising challenge to celebrate the 20^th

anniversary of Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.

Travelling 900km throughout October and pushing a NICU incubator in 20 selected locations on the journey from Sydney to Melbourne, Life’s Little Treasures Foundation is embarking on this bold event The Mighty Trek Challenge to celebrate two decades of service.

The annual Walk for Prems is Australia’s largest event dedicated to supporting families with premature and sick babies is set to be even bigger in 2025 with the welcome addition of new locations across NSW and Victoria and The Mighty Trek Challenge option for participants.

The inaugural Mighty Trek Challenge will see premmie families, hospital staff, friends, supporters and everyday Australians pushing a NICU incubator 900km in 20 selected locations on the route from Sydney toMelbourne.

The Mighty Trek Challenge will highlight the challenges faced by families with premature and sick babies and create a legacy by raising $1M to propel the organisation into the next 20 years.

"Together, let’s raise $1M for premature and sick babies. This vital funding will enable Life’s Little Treasures Foundation to expand our presence with support staff in 20 tertiary hospitals by 2026—doubling our capacity to help families at one of the toughest times in their life,” said Felicia Welstead, CEO of Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.

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At the 20 locations Life’s Little Treasures Foundation will be hosting special Walk for Prems events and together with the local communities, the incubator will be pushed for 900 km!

Dates and locations are:

1.     Sydney North - 1 October

2.     Sydney Central - 4 October

3.     Sydney West - 5 October

4.     Wollongong - 7 October

5.     Shellharbour - 8 October

6.     Moss Vale - 9 October

7.     Goulburn - 10 October

8.     Canberra - 12 October

9.     Wagga Wagga - 14 October

10.   Albury - 15 October

11.   Wangaratta - 16 October

12.   Shepparton - 17 October

13.   Bendigo - 19 October

14.   Kyneton - 21 October

15.   West Melbourne - 23 October

16.   Geelong - 24 October

17.   Ballarat - 25 October

18.   Melbourne Central - 26 October

19.   Melbourne North - 27 October

20.   Melbourne East - 30 October

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The regular Walk for Prems event will also be heldin Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in October.

There are lots of ways for the community to show their support and get behind The Mighty Trek Challenge:

1.    Join Life’s Little Treasures Foundation and local communities at Walk for Prems events on The Mighty Trek route from Sydney to Melbourne:

Be part of the 20 special Walk for Prems events happening along The Mighty Trek route from Sydney to Melbourne.

· Walk for Prems – Our signature, family-friendly walk, with entertainment and a special remembrance ceremony.

· The Mighty Trek Challenge laps – Challenge yourself by completing as many laps as possible on the day

· Have the honour of pushing the incubator - book a slot and push the incubator at each of the locations on the route, symbolising the journey families face in NICU.

2.    Participants can Walk for Prems and complete The Mighty Trek Challenge – Anytime, anywhere with the l virtual option. You can choose to sign up for:

· Walk for Prems Virtual and complete the 5km Family-Friendly Distance.

· Take on The Mighty Trek Challenge – Choose Your own goal for October, for example:

o Walk 20km a week.

o Ride 200km with friends.

o Run two 10km sets every weekend.

o Rollerskate 200km in October.

3.    Other ways to get involved:

• 20 CEOs for 20 Years initiative – Business leaders are being asked to take on the challenge to raise $5,000 each while leading by example.
• Corporate & workplace participation – Teams can join The Mighty Trek, Walk for Prems, or sponsor kilometres for their leaders.
• Donate or sponsor a participant – Supporters can help LLTF reach its $1M goal by backing walkers, trekkers, and business leaders.

Each year, 48,000 babies in Australia are born premature or sick with one in seven babies needing critical care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN). 

For 20 years, Life’s Little Treasures Foundation has been there, supporting families through their toughest days with tailored information, practical support and community connection.

Life’s Little Treasures Foundation vision is to ensure that all families enduring the difficult and life-changing experience of having a premature/sick baby have easy access to critical information and communitysupport.

Life’s Little Treasures Foundation services are available in the hospital (neonatal and special care units) and in the community when families come home.

For more information, please visit www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au and www.walkforprems.org.a

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