You not only raised significant donations for CHSF in and around February for Heart Month, but with your help we communicated our cause loud and clear to every corner of the region through your stories!

Here’s a round-up of just some of the blogs and local news which helped raise awareness and donations in the past few weeks…

Finley was the face of the Wear Red Day fundraising pack this year. Mum Tamra describes how he was rushed straight to Scarborough’s Special Care Baby Unit with a suspected infection at birth, and then immediately blue-lighted to the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit (LCHU).

Read the full story here.

Alessia Mae is fast approaching her first birthday, but at birth she was sent urgently to her local hospital as she was critically low on oxygen and had open heart surgery at just a day old in Leeds.

This was reported in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus and on our blog here.

Three-year old Zak’s condition was found by complete coincidence as reported in The York Press, but they found forever friends in CHSF and Katie Bear during his treatment.

Mum Olivia explains on our blog here.

And 17-year old Alfie’s family found out he had congenital heart disease (CHD) when he was just 2 months old. Following multiple procedures, Alfie is now enjoying life both as a teenager and keen LUFC supporter.

Mum Kirsty tells us on our blog here.

When Luca was born, mum Emma and dad Michael discovered he had a very loud heart murmur. The day after, they were transferred from Jimmy’s to the Leeds Children’s Hospital for a heart scan. It was then when they received the congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosis.

Read more here.

Bradford-based adult patient Louise had open heart surgery aged 7 at Killingbeck Hospital. Now 41, Louise celebrated her 40th year by completing an enviable set of running fundraisers for CHSF in 2024!

Read all about it on our blog here.

And CHSF supporter Grant – dad to heart hero Joseph – is taking part in our 15,000ft Skydive to thank “all the people who played a part in saving my son’s life”.

Find out more here.

We also had numerous other local press stories because of you, including the following families…

We can’t thank you all enough for helping us reach local audiences and spreading our message!

You can still make a donation for Wear Red Day and Heart Month!

Your donation will do so much for our region’s life-saving heart unit, it’s patients and their families.

Got fundraising to pay in? Go to chsf.org.uk/wear-red-day/#payingin to see ways you can get your money to us!

Thank you again – you’re all inc-RED-ible!

Introducing new trustee Colin Clewes

Introducing new trustee Colin Clewes

Colin Clewes is an adult CHD patient and owns Pennine Signs in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire! Colin has had a coarctation repair, a partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage repaired and he has a bicuspid aortic valve. He has been a huge CHSF supporter over the years,...

Warrior Wednesday: The Story of Raeyaan

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Fundraiser of the Month: Hall and Varley Families

Fundraiser of the Month: Hall and Varley Families

After six months of preparation and a whole lot of heart, the Hall and Varley families of Kippax Leeds put on a super Polar Express themed Christmas Party to raise funds for CHSF. Children were invited to attend in their pyjamas and the hosting families dressed as...