A Highlands mother of two is drawing on her own near tragic experience to help those less fortunate.
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Danielle McVie is set to stride out across more than 21 kilometres to raise money for the care of premature babies.
Danielle was inspired to take on the mammoth trek after learning of the plight of a mother who lost all three of her prematurely born triplets in 2006.
The story of Sophie Smith, whose three sons, Henry, Jasper and Evan each weighed less than a kilogram when born, hit a personal cord for Danielle who also had a daughter born 12 weeks early.
Henry lived for only one hour, Evan survived for 10 days and Jasper lost his battle after 58 days.
Danielle said that after the deaths of the boys, Sophie and her husband Ash were determined that they would never be forgotten and that something good would come out of their lives.
She said Sophie started to train for a half marathon, dedicating her efforts to her sons and raising money for the Royal Hospital for Women in their memory.
Nine months after her sons were born Sophie ran in the Sydney Morning Herald half marathon with a team of 98 people. Together they raised $80,000 for new humidicribs.
Danielle said that each year since that time a team has trained and run in the SMH half marathon to raise money for the boy's trust fund.
"In the five years since they died, more than 700 people have run and more the $520,000 has been raised in their memory. This has bought 10 humidicribs and 10 neo-natal monitors, which are saving lives of hundreds of premature babies," she said.
Fortunately Danielle's story of a premature birth had a more happy ending.
But the heartache and worry associated with having a premature baby was not lost on Danielle as her daughter, now six, spent her first 10 weeks of life in hospital before heading home.
She said she was moved by the story of Sophie and Ash, not only because of their loss, but because of the strength and resilience they both showed.
Danielle said she was 28 weeks into her pregnancy when she learned she had severe pre-eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure) which could not be controlled by medication and her vital organs were at a risk of shutting down.
The only solution was to deliver her baby 12 weeks prematurely.
"I remember the doctors telling my husband that if they didn't deliver our baby as soon as possible, he would not have a wife or child," Danielle said.
Danielle and her husband were told that their baby would have a survival rate of 95-98%.
However, there was the risk that she would be born with a number of disabilities and challenges.
On October 21, 2005 Danielle's baby, Lucy was born.
"She had see-through skin and was a very a tiny 990 grams and 35 centimetres long," she said.
"The time after Lucy's birth was the most stressful and uncertain time of our lives.
"Lucy was put in a humidicrib with all types of machines attached to her to help her to breathe and to receive the fluids and nutrients she needed to fight the brave battle ahead of her.
"As I put my hand in the humidicrib, to touch my baby for the first time, she reached out her tiny hand and held my finger, we both cried."
Danielle said that Lucy fought a number of infections before she was released from hospital.
"Without the life saving equipment and the doctors and nurses, we wouldn't have our precious baby," she said.
Now six years later Danielle, her mother Michelle Lidgard, and three friends Nerissa Nickl, Alexandra Viles, Dolly Moule and Liz De Graaf, are ready to show their support to others who face the worry and often heartbreak of having a premature baby.
They aim to raise money for life saving equipment for premature babies and they have happily put their own bodies through gruelling training over the past six months to prepare themselves for a charitable long distance run that few would contemplate.
Supporting them to prepare for the half marathon distance has been Tamara Kerr of Pink Boot Camp who has put the team of local runners through a mix of training including two distance runs each week and cross training with a focus on strength and agility.
Danielle said this year the people involved in "running for premature babies" hoped to raise a total of $140,000 to buy two frequency ventilators for the Royal Hospital for Women.
Donations can be made through www.runningfor prematurebabies.com or phone 9382 6720.