Running for Phoebe

On 12 January 2025, my wife, Clemmie, gave birth to our daughter, Phoebe Amber Rose Ewing. Phoebe was born prematurely at 23 weeks and 5 days. She was a fighter but ultimately her prematurity proved too much of a challenge for her and she died in our arms just 5 hours after she was born.

Being born is the most dangerous thing we do in our lives, yet pregnancy remains one of the least explored aspects of human biology. The area is scientifically complex and confusing with a history of theories that were misleading. Health problems that occur during pregnancy and childbirth are complex syndromes with multiple causes and multiple outcomes.

• Globally, 15 million babies are born too soon every year. Over 1 million die.
• In the UK, half of adults in the UK are affected by pregnancy loss.
• 1 in 10 premature babies will have a permanent disability

In Phoebe’s memory I am raising funds for two charities, Borne and Tommys, whose missions are to end premature birth, stop the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and make pregnancy and birth safe.

The Challenge…..

I am going to run the Great North Run and the Great South Run this year. I can safely say I am not a runner so I am not going to enjoy it. I always avoided preseason in rugby, chose to be a wicketkeeper in cricket, and been known to take a cart on the golf course. I’ve never run an organised race so taking on two long runs 6 weeks apart is not going to be a breeze. I chose these two challenges deliberately.

The Great North Run on 7 September is the world’s largest half marathon and is set in Newcastle. Part of my family are from Newcastle, I went to Newcastle University, I lived and started my career with KPMG in Newcastle. It’s a brilliant event in an absolutely brilliant city. Many friends and family have done it and I really should have done it before now so it seems only right that I give it a crack.

Also running with me are my sister and brother in law, Carla & Sunil Malhotra.

The Great South Run on 19 October is a 10 mile run in the city of my birth - Portsmouth. Pompey is a city that is close to my heart being a Royal Naval port my father worked in and home to the football team I support (PUP!!). Here I will be running with a group of close friends who have all agreed to run the 10 miles with me in memory of Phoebe and to raise as much money as possible to help put a stop to premature birth and baby loss.

Also running the GSR with me are Carla & Sunil Malhotra, Clemmies brothers - Charlie & Ed Hill, Rex Carter, Stu Wilkinson and Anthony Whelan.

I can promise you I am only going to do this once (well twice if you take both races individually). So please help me raise money to help us stop another family going through the heartbreak that we have.