Premature birth is the leading cause of infant mortality in children under 5 around the world today. 15 million babies are born too soon each year; 1 million die. Those that survive can face lifelong disability from cerebral palsy, autism, asthma, deafness, blindness to developmental delays and learning difficulties. 

Yet, 85% of women who present with threatened preterm labour are unanticipated, and for over 45% of preterm births, the cause is unknown. We simply do not know enough.

Borne is committed to funding pioneering research that will help develop new treatments to prevent the onset of preterm labour, and to find answers to why some babies are born too soon.

Borne's supporters are courageous in sharing their experience, and committed to ensuring that others are spared the heartache and anguish that they've experienced. 

A group of the bold and the brave who support Borne's mission, including Borne Patron, Will Greenwood MBE, Borne Ambassador Dean Mumm and Borne Chairman, Julian Mylchreest, led by Alan Chambers MBE, embarked on this extreme challenge in April 2018 to raise funds for Borne.

The Arctic Ocean is one of the most inhospitable regions on our planet. The weather ferocious and unpredictable, the ice conditions unstable. Distances are immense and facilities scarce. 

The team set off from Barneo Ice Camp, a Russian temporary ice base established annually for a month on an ice floe in the Arctic Circle. They trekked across constantly moving sea ice in temperatures between -25C and -45C to reach the Geographic North Pole in one of the most extreme tests of physical and psychological endurance that they can ever experience. 

Thank you for supporting us and Borne's work. Your contribution will enable this vital research to continue.

To find out more, visit www.borne.org.uk