Serena and David seek others to walk
Call (But talk slowly) anytime.
“You don’t know it’s going to happen, until it then happens.”
These are the words of Warragul mother Serena Arnold upon reflecting on the birth of her now 10-year-old son Thomas.
Serena was just 32 weeks pregnant when she was rushed to a Melbourne hospital. Thomas was born weighing just 1.2kg and, as a result, spent five weeks in the NICU.
In Australia, it is now estimated that 17 per cent of babies born require special care or neonatal intensive care. For some, it is a short stay. For others, it can be weeks or even months.
These weeks surrounded by tiny babies and their parents had a profound impact on Serena and husband David who have volunteered at hospitals and Ronald McDonald House in the 10 years since.
“It’s incredible common but something that’s not talked about prior to having a child,” said David.
The Arnold family will rally the community together when Walk for Prems Gippsland returns for its second year on Sunday, October 28.
The walk along the Brooker Park walking tracks in Warragul will raise funds to support premature and sick babies along with their families via the Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.
The event begins at 10am ahead of the walk starting at 10.30am. Activities will conclude at 1pm.
With last year’s walk attracting 246 participants, including 100 people who simply turned up on the day, Serena said it showed how many people are touched by premature or sick babies.
“It creates this amazing community of likeminded people because they have been forced to be,” said Serena. “Everyone is happy to openly share what they’ve gone through…because they’ve got a common history.”
With a new name – Walk for Prems Gippsland – to broaden its appeal to the entire region and increased family activities on offer, this year’s event has already attracted 100 registrations.
With participants travelling from Bairnsdale and Sale, Serena said the name change made sense.
“It’s more inclusive,” said Serena. “We want to encourage everyone to come.”
While proud by the success of the inaugural walk, Serena is keen to keep Walk for Prems Gippsland as a community-minded event. It is one of only three conducted in regional Victoria.
To keep the youngsters busy, this year’s event will see a Teddy Bear’s Picnic out on the 4km course, jumping castle, face painting, animal petting zoo and flags.
A coffee van, Lions club sausage sizzle, West Gippsland Library storytime activities and Gippsland Water drink bottles and refillable water stations will also be on hand.
Carolyn Wong, who herself was a prem baby and now works in the NICU at Knox and Royal Children’s hospitals, will be on hand as a passionate guest speaker.
Volunteering in Ronald McDonald House, Serena believes 90 per cent of the clientele come from Gippsland.
Having reaped the benefits of Life’s Little Treasures Foundations, Serena said money raised would ultimately keep families together during a stressful time.
New initiatives from the foundation include “Food from the Heart” to provide nourishing meals for parents and other children during NICU stays, petrol vouchers to assist regional families with travel costs and a Grandparent App to ensure every family member has information on hand.
To register for Walk for Prems Gippsland, visit walkforprems.org.au.
The cost to participate is $18 for adults, $10 for children and $7 for babies under two. Registrations close on Wednesday, October 17.