This time last year Helensburgh parents Kylie Gagen and Chris Arena were happy just to have their daughter Sophia home from hospital.

On Sunday the family will take part in the Walk for Prems event in Sydney to raise much-needed funds for families of premature or sick babies.

Mrs Gagen said her personal experience with Sophia encouraged her to support Life's Little Treasures Foundation's annual walk which is held in seven major cities across Australia.

"Sophia was born at 34 weeks, six weeks premature after my waters broke at 32 weeks," Mrs Gagen said.

"I was in hospital on bed rest for about two weeks prior to her being born. She was induced at 34 weeks purely because my waters had already ruptured and she would have been prone to infections.

"She was born at 4 pound 4 ounces (1927 grams) and she spent 25 nights in hospital in a special care nursery at Kogarah. She needed assistance with breathing, eating and maintaining body temperature as well as putting on weight."

Today 14-month-old Sophia is a picture of health but her mother is keen to ensure other families with premature babies are aware support is at hand.

"I wasn't aware there were support networks until after Sophia was born," Mrs Gagen said. "Had I known about them for the two weeks I was in hospital I think that would have made my experience a bit better.

"There was no rhyme or reason as to why Sophia was born prem. It was just one of those things you can't be given an answer for but I was quite naive in thinking we might have contributed to it in some way.

"This experience opened my eyes to the fact that is rarely the case."

All funds raised by the family-friendly social walk at Sydney Park in St Peters on October 26 will help provide people like Mrs Gagen with information, support and understanding to help them with their challenging journey.

The foundation was born in 2005 after a group of parents of premature babies decided to do something about the lack of support available.

About 45,000 infants are admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit or special care nursery ward each year in Australia.

Registrations: www.walkforprems.org.au