World Prematurity Day Lights The World Up Purple

Each year up to 25,000 Australian babies are born prematurely. Globally, 15 million babies are born before 37 weeks gestation and sadly around 1 million of these will not survive. Preterm or premature birth is the second leading cause of newborn death yet there is little public awareness of the fact. 

The National Premmie Foundation invites all Australians to show their support for families coping with the birth of loss of a preterm child by 'Lighting Up Purple' on the 17th November 2013.

The National Premmie Foundation consists of a network of individuals and charitable organisations from across Australia making it the largest organisation in Australia representing the interests of families of preterm infants. It is a founding member and the Australian representative in the World Prematurity Network, which is working with other charities around the world to actively increase awareness of prematurity, help reduce the incidence of pre-term birth and also support families who experience premature birth or neonatal loss. The World Prematurity Network consists of international groups - March of Dimes (USA), EFCNI (Europe), BigLittleSouls (Africa), Bliss (UK), Home for Premature Babies (China) and the Born Great Foundation (Africa).

Carolyn Lindsey, President of the Foundation says, “We are asking people throughout Australia to get behind World Prematurity Day.  You can be a part of the ‘Light It Up Purple’ campaign in Australia by wearing purple and purchasing a National Premmie Foundation candle and lighting it in your own home at 7pm on November 17^th 2013."

Carolyn says, that the Light It Up Purple campaign, shows families that the world cares about what they are going through. 

“We want to see purple lights shining around the world on November 17^th as the world remembers the little ones lost,” she says.

Countries around the world are showing their support for World Prematurity Day by lighting up homes and buildings with purple for premmies. In 2011 and 2012, the Empire State Building went purple and will again in 2013. Last year in Australia, the Questacon building in Canberra lit up purple and the Foundation hopes to have many more landmarks lighting purple in the years to come.

Australians are encouraged to learn more about the challenges that premature babies and their families face, and show their support by purchasing a National Premmie Foundation Candle, making a direct donation and joining the official World Prematurity Australia Facebook page.