We are running the Run to the Beat London Half-Marathon on 28th October 2012 as part of the Ickle Pickles Running Team in aid of the Southampton Neonatal Unit. This charity is so close to our hearts as our beautiful neice, Eva, was born 13 weeks early, weighing 815g (1lb, 13oz).

When she was first born Eva was tiny (as the photos on this page show!), and she was hardly able to take a milliliter of fluid in one go. Now she is a less tiny person and isn't fazed by taking on brownies the size of her head (see photo!).

This amazing improvement did not happen by accident, it was the result of the care and support that Eva and her tireless parents received from the wonderful staff at Southampton.

Eva has gone from strength to strength since the tiny steps of improvement she made during the very first days, although not without little hiccups along the way (which those of you who know how precious these premature little people are will understand). She eventually left the hospital exactly 100 days after she was born, and has continued her strides of improvement as she now, quite incredibly, negotiates talking and walking (and stairs)!

Without really wanting to compare our running to Eva's struggles in any way, her strength (and that of her parents) has motivated us to make our own tiny steps, which have also turned into strides. Albeit on the roads near our house, rather than in an incubator! What started as an aim to be able to run 5K has developed into pushing ourselves for longer and longer runs, and before we knew it we are training for our first half-marathon!

Your donations, no matter how small, can, together, make a big difference to the care and support that the staff at the Southampton Neonatal Unit are able to give to precious little people like Eva and their families during such difficult and emotional times.