Each year more than 4,000 West Australian babies will be admitted to a Neonatal Unit. 75% of them will have been born prematurely with the remaining 25% full term but sick. Some stays will last for only a few hours, some for many months, even a year. Their families lives will be thrown into turmoil, some will relocate from regional areas indefinitely. No matter the length of time in a Neonatal Unit this simply isn’t the start to life anyone imagined. The long term impact and ripple effect is felt far and wide, and for many years to come.

This November we celebrate 7 years of making a difference to the community. We are a 100% volunteer run organisation, run by WA families, for the benefit of WA families. We are reliant solely on the generosity of the community so that we can continue our vital programs including Care Package, Developmental Playgroup, Support Groups, Advocacy and more. To date we have directly impacted more than 10,000 WA families!

To mark World Prematurity Day on November 17 we have held a Family Fun Day in the past however with COVID19 restrictions and the risk posed by gathering a vulnerable group within the community, we have made the decision not to proceed this year. Safe guarding our community is a top priority!

For many years we have coordinated ‘light it up purple’ within WA which forms part of a larger global wave of purple light sweeping the globe on November 17. This year we have some amazing new comers and we are so very grateful for their support, helping us to shine a light on the critical issue of preterm birth, effecting some 15 million globally each year.

If you would like to help us do more to support families in 2021 and beyond we would love for you to share your story through our social channels, host a ‘tiny bites for tiny sparks’ fundraiser with your friends or family in the comfort of your own home, jump in the car on World Prematurity Day and have a picture with some of the amazing landmarks which will be lit purple for the occasion, or simply make a donation!

Venues joining us to ‘Light it up Purple’ include:

• Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre*

• Perth Cultural Centre near James St Amphitheatre*

• Parliament House

• Mandurah Bridge

• Council House

• Yagan Square including water feature*

• Bell Tower

• Perth Concert Hall*

• Perth Children’s Hospital*

• Busselton Civic Centre*

• King Edward Memorial Hospital

• Trafalgar Bridge, East Perth

• Broome Water Tower*

• Optus Stadium

• Matagarup Bridge

• Perth General Post Office*

• Elizabeth Quay

• SJOG Hospital Bunbury*

• ECU Joondalup*

• Mount Street Bridge*

• Sky Ribbon*

• Graham Farmer Freeway Tunnel*

(* denotes first time participation in 2020)

We truly appreciate the regional shires who have embraced this opportunity! Broome, Mandurah, Busselton, thank you so much!!

Please get out and about on World Prematurity Day, 17 November. Take some photos with your families and don’t forget to tag us so that we can share through our channels, @tinysparkswa

Don’t forget to share your story with your family and friends throughout November.

Thank you for your generous support!