This year I will be tackling the 19.7km swim to Rottnest Island solo in support of Helping Little Hands, with William Jones in the support kayak and Katrina Calvert providing skippering prowess. Every year over 26,000 Australian babies are born preterm, many of whom are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for weeks or months. I see these preterm babies born every day at work; I see the challenges their families face, and the amazing work that Helping Little Hands does to support them. When a baby is admitted to the NICU, life as it was for the family ends. Priorities change and what was once important is sidelined. Daily tasks are put on hold while life revolves around the NICU schedule – cares, cuddles (and car parks). The best medicine you can give a premature baby is time with their parents. Helping Little Hands provides practical support for families of the NICU so that their time is spent with their baby – giving kangaroo care, expressing, breastfeeding and spending time by the bedside.