Each day two babies in the UK are conceived with a neural tube defect. Shine supports children born with spina bifida due to a neural tube defect. The child might be severely disabled, incontinent and, in some cases, suffer serious brain injury. 

Research has shown that should a prospective mother take a folic acid (vitamin B9) supplement correctly prior to falling pregnant 70% of these disabilities could be avoided. 

At Shine we aim to educate prospective mothers about the importance of ensuring that they take a folic acid supplement in the form of a small tablet, which can be purchased at their local pharmacy. 400 micrograms (5 mg should there be a history of spina bifida in the family) taken daily greatly reduces the risk of having a baby born with spina bifida. 

As we all know not all pregnancies are planned and only a small percentage of prospective mothers are acting on our advice and taking the supplement ‘just in case’. We are working hard through various social media networks, our website and advice work to get this VERY important message across. 

We can make a real difference to a family’s life by continuing to promote the importance of folic acid - it really is a matter of life and death in some cases and can be the difference between a baby being born with a severe disability or without the disability. 

In order to be in a position to promote the importance of folic acid we are organising a virtual online balloon race to raise the funds which will assist Shine in getting this important message across. The balloons are being launched on the 25th October to coincide with Shine Awareness Week and will be released from Shine’s HQ in Peterborough