Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In April I will be setting out on an extreme journey to the top of the world that I never planned or anticipated.   The North Pole was never on my bucket list.   I hate the cold.  I can't ski.

However what will drive me on as we trek across the ice in temperatures as low as minus 40 is my frustration at how little we know about prematurity and my passion to fix that.    

All five of our children were born prematurely.   Two  of our 'Fabulous 5' nearly didn't make it and three of them are living every day with the challenges and disabilities that come from prematurity.

Preterm 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;  I million die.

Those that survive can face lifelong disability - from cerebral palsy, autism, asthma, deafness, blindness...to developmental delays and learning difficulties.

The annual cost of preterm birth to the UK's NHS is estimated at £3 billion.   Prolonging pregnancies that are delivered preterm by just one week would save the NHS £260 million per annum.

And yet research into prematurity is so massively underfunded.   

That is what I want to do my small bit to change.   It is why I was one of the founding donors of Borne and then became chair of trustees at the charity.  And it is why I said yes to this Arctic challenge! 

So please join with me in helping Borne to continue and expand its pioneering research programmes though sponsoring our trek or making a donation directly today, be it large or small.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

And remember, if you are a UK tax payer, you can help maximise your donation by 25p for every £1 by selecting Gift Aid. So please do keep a look out for the option.

Thank you for your support.  

Julian