We urgently need to raise the first £20,000 towards a vital piece of research into necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).
Premature babies are among those most susceptible to this life-threatening condition, which affects up to one in 20 babies in neonatal units. It strikes rapidly and babies need urgent treatment.
Tragically, in many cases once NEC is identified it can already be too late.
Elijah, pictured above, was born prematurely at 25 weeks, but despite an initial positive prognosis, he sadly died at just 37 days old as a result of NEC.
The research we're funding into necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is studying certain types of factors within breast milk to understand their role in protecting babies from harm.
Our work could shed new light on how we might help protect preterm babies from life-threatening illnesses, which we hope will one day lead to improvements in neonatal care and treatment, says Dr Smith, who's leading the research at University of Northumbria.
You can help make this research happen. Take on a challenge, hold a sponsored walk, give up chocolate - whatever your thing - have fun, raise money and help save lives.
100% of the money you raise or donate will go towards this research fighting NEC.
We have a generous partner who has donated £5,000 already towards our £20,000 target and has agreed to match the next £5,000 donations we receive from supporters too so your donation could be doubled!
Elijah led a very traumatic little life. he died sleeping on my chest in the small hours - that's when we joined the fight to stop premature birth."
Jenny pictured above with husband James and baby Elijah. Watch Jenny's emotional story about Elijah below
Find out more about the research in this short film by BBC Look North and Cumbria, which was first shown on 09/05/2019.
Watch Jack's story. Born three months early, Jack spent the first four and a half months of his life in hospital. He needed oxygen, help with his breathing, and feeding tubes to survive and had numerous operations after contracting NEC.
If you have been affected by NEC and would like to share your story, head over to our Born Too Soon gallery. Thank you.
At Action we've been helping to save and change lives through medical research for over 65 years. We believe that the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children can be beaten.
We have a proud history of funding groundbreaking research that's benefited thousands of babies and their families, all thanks to supporters like you. Here are some highlights:
* Discovering the importance of taking folic acid to prevent spina bifida * Developing the use of ultrasound scanning in pregnancy * Developing lifesaving cooling therapy for newborns * Developing a pioneering fetal heart rate monitor
Find out more about our work action.org.uk
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
