Hello, and thank you for visiting my fundraising page. This year, I’m running the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Group B Strep Support (GBSS), a cause that is incredibly close to my heart. It’s been 9 months since I ran the London Marathon for the same charity, and I remain committed to raising awareness and advocating for change. I’ll be running in memory of the babies who never made it, for the ones who fought for their lives, and for those whose lives were changed forever by GBS.

You may already know my story from last year's marathon. That race was part of my healing journey—a journey that continues to this day. Over the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Group B Strep Support (GBSS)—a charity that has been my rock and has supported my family through the aftermath of a traumatic birth experience.

In January 2021, my beautiful daughter Uma was born lifeless, fighting for her life in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after we both contracted a life-threatening GBS infection. I wasn’t able to hold my baby until hours later because I, too, was critically ill in intensive care, struggling with maternal sepsis. Thanks to the incredible care we both received, Uma is now a happy 4-year-old. We are among the lucky ones, but so many families aren’t.

The knowledge and support I found through GBSS have been invaluable as we navigated our healing process. GBSS is the only UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of GBS and advocating for change in maternal care to help prevent infections and save lives. They’ve helped me heal and given me the strength to continue this fight.

Did you know that:

-Group B Streptococcus is the UK's most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies and of meningitis in babies under age 3 months.

-On average, two babies a day in the UK develop a life-threatening infection from GBS, like meningitis, pneumonia, or sepsis.


-One baby a week dies from a GBS infection.


-One baby a week survives with long-term disabilities due to a GBS infection.


Yet, GBS infections are preventable through screening and the timely administration of antibiotics during labor for mothers who test positive.

As a mother, I can’t help but think about how different things might have been if I’d had access to a simple test during my pregnancy.

This race isn’t just about crossing the finish line. It’s about running for all the babies who never had the chance to take their first breath. It’s for the countless other babies who are fighting or have fought GBS infections. It’s for every parent who deserves to know about this preventable risk.

Your support, whether through donations or simply spreading awareness, means the world to me. Together, we can make a difference and continue to push for GBS screening in the UK. Thank you for being part of this journey with me.

Gratefully,

Preya 💙💛