A Hunter man has raised more than $11,000 for Maitland Hospital after completing a 115-kilometre charity run in honour of the care his premature baby received.
Jackson Ball, 28, set out on Friday morning from Maitland Hospital, finishing at the Bottom Pub in Denman across a three-day “Premmie Marathon”.
Originally setting a fundraising target of $1,100, Jackson says he was overwhelmed by the community response, with raffles, clubs and local events helping push the total beyond $11,120. Large crowds greeted the runners at the Jerrys Plains Tavern on Saturday and again in Denman on Sunday.
The money raised from this event will go towards buying neonatal equipment to improve the life expectancy for prem babies.
Ball chose to do this run on behalf of his son Malakai who was born at 34 weeks. Malakai and his mother then spent a few weeks in the NICU ward at Maitland hospital.
Reflecting on the experience, Jackson said he became emotional in the days after. “I only wanted to do it for myself and to say thank you to the midwives and the hospital for what they did for my son, but I think it went a little bit bigger than that,” he said.
“To now look back and know that for future babies that are premmie, I had a helping hand in their success in survival… it makes me a bit emotional.”
He thanked family members for their support, including his cousins Ashton and Keedan, who ran alongside him, and his father and aunt, who provided vehicle support.
“If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would’ve got through the first day,” he said.
He also acknowledged local sponsors including the Denman Hotel, the Horse and Jockey Hotel Singleton and Hollydene Estate Wines.
Jackson said the community played a central role in the fundraiser’s success. “They were the ones to put the money in the pocket. “If it was $1 or $100, everything counts,” he said.
“It goes from babies having to share cribs and blue lights to, in the future, each baby being able to have their own.”
He and his cousins are currently sitting number one nationally for funds raised in this year’s charity event, with donations open until the end of November.
While surgery scheduled for next year means another marathon is unlikely in 2026, Jackson said future events were possible with sponsors and community interest in the event high. “I don’t think it’s going to be the last,” he said.
In the meantime, you can still donate here: https://www.runningforprematurebabies.com/fundraisers/jacksonball
