Grieving parents are taking on a second charity run in memory of their premature baby daughter who died last year.

Christine and Tom Mullen took up running especially for the 10k route and have already raised £1,700 for First Touch, a charity supporting sick and premature babies at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

The charity supported the family, who live in Sunshine Way, Mitcham, when little Charley Mullen was born prematurely at 26 weeks on January 6 last year and died almost ten weeks later.

They have now dedicated themselves to raising as much money as possible to help the charity in return.

Wandsworth Times:

Mrs Mullen after the first run

A total of £850 already raised in donations from family and friends has been used to pay for two NeoPuff machines which can be used to resuscitate infants in need.

The equipment at St George's has a plaque on it dedicated to the memory of Charley.

Mr and Mrs Mullen took part in a 10k run last summer and have been in training for a second event in July this year.

Mrs Mullen, 39, said: "We are going to raise as much money as possible."

The couple, who have a competitive streak, got married last year although they have known each other since they were teenagers.

Mrs Mullen said: "I wasn’t really keen on running before – I wasn’t very fit.

"For last year’s run, I had just had the baby and I was out of shape but I ran all the way.

"I was absolutely exhausted."

Mrs Mullen first noticed something was wrong when she began bleeding in pregnancy and she was admitted to hospital three weeks before baby Charley was born prematurely.

"Her lungs were under-developed and she was perfect aside from a club foot.

"She got infections in hospital and she couldn’t cope.

"It helps us to cope to raise money," she added.

The family will be running the British 10k London Run on Sunday, July 12.

Donations to First Touch in memory of Charley can be made at www.justgiving.com/charley-mullen or text CMFT95 £3 to 70070 to donate £3.