Today we’re excited to highlight Lily and Danielle – two of our wonderful supporters taking part in the Mini Great North Run this year!
Lily and her mum Danielle are taking part in this year’s Mini Great North Run for the second time to raise vital funds for Tiny Lives.
From early pregnancy complications and the unwavering support of the QE Maternity Team, to a transfer to the RVI due to Danielle’s early gestation, every step of Danielle’s pregnancy was filled with challenge, but also courage.
Lily was born at just 24 weeks, spending an incredible 125 days in hospital, mostly in the RVI NICU, and later in the QE SCBU as she grew stronger.
Throughout their journey, Tiny Lives became a lifeline.
“Tiny Lives supported us through one of the most difficult times in our lives. From helping with car parking costs – something so small but so impactful – to memory boxes, sibling packs, Mini Boos, positioning aids, access to psychologists… the list truly goes on.“
Now, Lily and Danielle are running to give back, ensuring other families facing the unimaginable receive the same compassion, care, and support.
If you’re interested in running the Great North Run in aid of Tiny Lives in September 2026, please fill in our expression of interest form below.
Please note we may not be able to allocate you a GNR charity place. Successful runners will need to pay the GNR Registration Fee to confirm their place.
We ask all interested runners to also enter the Great North Run general ballot when this opens in January 2026. By doing this you are kindly giving as many interested runners as possible the opportunity to experience the Great North Run and raise valuable funds to help Tiny Lives support neonatal families!
Great North Runner Claire Gives Back in Memory of Her Son, Harry – Joined by Her Daughter Jessica
We’re incredibly proud to highlight one of our inspirational Great North Runners this year – Claire, who is taking on the challenge in memory of her son Harry, and is joined by her eldest daughter Jessica.
Harry spent 9 precious weeks on Ward 35 at the RVI, showing incredible strength through multiple infections and major abdominal surgery for suspected NEC. With the expert care of the neonatal team, Harry made amazing progress — becoming fully fed, needing no cannulas or long lines, and taking all his medication orally. Tragically, Harry became poorly again, and his little body couldn’t fight any longer. He passed away on 14th June, cradled in Claire’s arms.
Throughout their time in the unit, Tiny Lives provided vital support, from parking permits that eased financial stress, to sibling packs that helped Claire’s young daughters understand why their baby brother wasn’t at home. After Harry’s passing, sibling bears were gifted to the girls as a special keepsake from their brother.
Claire also cherishes one unforgettable moment, “The first time I saw my baby open his eyes was through a photo sent to me via vCreate. I will treasure this forever.”
Now, Claire is giving back as a peer supporter with Tiny Lives, offering empathy, strength, and guidance to other parents facing the unimaginable. Running alongside her this year is her daughter Jessica, proudly taking part to honour her baby brother.
Claire’s courage, and the love and determination shown by both her and Jessica, are an inspiration to us all. Thank you, Claire and Jessica, for running in Harry’s memory and helping support families in neonatal care.
On 10th May 2024, one of our incredible supporters experienced a life-changing moment. Her second child, Nico, was born unexpectedly unwell, requiring immediate intubation and care in the NICU. What should have been a joyful celebration became a frightening and uncertain time.
During this challenging period, Tiny Lives was able to support her and her family, providing care packages, essentials, craft and photography materials, and access to a warm community of families who understand the NICU journey. Our aim is always to offer comfort, connection, and practical support when families need it most.
Thanks to the care he received and the support around him, Nico is now 15 months old and thriving, a true testament to the resilience of families and the importance of community in the NICU.
Moved by her experience, she is now giving back to help other families in similar situations by running the Great North Run 2025 to raise funds for Tiny Lives. Her efforts will help us continue providing vital support to families facing unexpected challenges during what should be one of life’s happiest times.
We are so grateful to have been part of her NICU journey and inspired by her commitment to helping others.
We’re excited to share a resource developed by the Neonatal Unit at the RVI to support families with limited English in neonatal care.
What they are: Packs of 9 picture-based communication cards showing everyday activities on a neonatal unit – no words, just images. They’re also available in 6 frequently used languages in our region: Arabic, Farsi, Bengali, Kurdish, Turkish, and Romanian. Plus, a blank set for families who speak other languages or have additional communication needs.
These cards are designed to: Help staff communicate day-to-day updates to families without needing a translator Empower families to be more involved in their baby’s care Encourage inclusion and connection, no matter the language barrier
Tiny Lives are proud to have been able to extend these cards to James Cook Hospital, making this vital tool accessible to even more families!
How to access: If you’re interested in these communication cards, please click here for more information on how to access them.
We’re still buzzing with excitement and gratitude after an unforgettable weekend in Keswick for the Siemens Energy Challenge 2025 – and we have some amazing news to share…
Thanks to the phenomenal efforts of Siemens Energy and everyone who donated, they raised a staggering £26,374 in support of Tiny Lives!
That’s over five times their original fundraising target – and every single penny will help support premature and sick newborn babies and their families across the North East and North Cumbria through the Newcastle Neonatal Service. From emotional support to vital practical help, this money will make a huge difference to families during some of their most difficult moments.
To all the brave participants who took on the wild waters, dizzying heights, and surprise challenges of the Lake District, we are in awe of your energy, commitment, and heart.
And to every single person who donated, thank you for standing with us and helping give our tiniest lives the best possible start.
At the end of August, Dr. Richard Hearn, Consultant Neonatologist and Head of Department at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, will cycle the 215-mile Southern Upland Way, coast to coast across Scotland to raise funds for Tiny Lives, the charity that supports premature and sick newborn babies and their families across the North East and North Cumbria.
The route is 215 miles with over 25000ft of climbing and the majority of the route is offroad. True to the spirit of the challenge, Dr. Hearn will complete the journey unsupported – carrying all his equipment, sleeping in a tent or bothies, and relying only on local shops and cafes for resupply.
“I’ve served as a Trustee for Tiny Lives for the last nine years, and as I come to the end of my time on the board, I wanted to do something special to give back, not just help the charity spend its funds, but raise some too!”
Tiny Lives is an independent charity dedicated to supporting and championing premature and sick newborn babies and their families, at the Newcastle Neonatal Service and across the North East and North Cumbria. In addition to providing emotional and financial support to families, the charity funds specialist staff roles, equipment, training, and post discharge support, all vital in delivering the highest quality neonatal care.
“Without Tiny Lives, the work we do on the unit would be significantly harder,” Dr. Hearn adds. “They make a huge difference to families during what is often the most difficult time in their lives.”
Born and raised in southwest Scotland, Dr. Hearn chose the Southern Upland Way both as a personal pilgrimage and a physical test. While the route usually takes walkers 12–16 days to complete, he’s giving himself just one week.
“I’ve always wanted to do this route, just not on foot! There will definitely be some hike-a-bike moments though. Some of those hills can’t be ridden!”
Dr. Hearn will attempt to share updates from the trail, though signal and battery life may be limited. He’s counting on Tiny Lives’ social media team to help keep supporters in the loop!
