Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) are once again hoping to see a red wave across our region on February 1st to help support babies and children living with congenital heart disease (CHD). Wear Red Day sees hundreds of schools, businesses and individuals across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire take part in raising valuable funds for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.
To join in with Wear Red Day, you can register at chsf.org.uk/events and receive your fundraising pack, or donate to the event by texting WEAR19 followed by £1, £2, £3, £5 or £10 to 70070. Nearly 1% of all UK babies are born with a congenital heart defect, and donations to CHSF support the vast majority of these cases in our region.
Local lad James Beckett was born in January 2017, 6 weeks early and weighing only 4lb 13 oz. He was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus – a condition where there is just one vessel instead of two leaving the ventricles of the heart. He had his first open heart surgery when he was 11 days old, and has had further surgery and keyhole procedures since.
Mum Laura says:
“CHSF and the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit have helped James and us as a family in so many ways, for instance by funding emotional support through the psychology service.”
“They also provide funding for research to help more families in the future. We would encourage everyone to wear red and help support all the heart warriors across the region.”
As treatment for CHD has improved in recent years, the prognosis for many of these babies is good, and both the Unit and charity support them into childhood as some need further operations and procedures.
James has just turned 2 years old and is doing well right now, but is due to have his 3rd open heart surgery in the near future.
This will be at the new hybrid theatre supported by CHSF’s successful Keeping The Beat appeal, opening in March 2019.
CHSF were proud to celebrate their 30th year as a charity last year, and have provided millions of pounds of funding for medical equipment, facilities, staffing and research over the years.
Their CEO Sharon Milner stressed the importance of the annual Wear Red Day fundraiser to keep the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit on top of the disease:
“We are proud to once again call on the trusted support of local schools, businesses and individuals to help fund the exceptional specialist care offered by our unit.”
“Wear Red Day is now in its 6th year and because of you, we have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds towards bridging the shortfall in NHS provision for medical equipment, facilities and research.”
“We are incredibly thankful for your vital help in keeping Leeds a shining beacon in national congenital cardiac care.”
Waste management company B&M Waste have been supporting CHSF for 3 years as a staff member in the Leeds team suffers from a heart condition.
They have stickered up their refuse vans to raise awareness for CHSF, and encourage other local businesses to take part in Wear Red Day and do the same.
Marketing Manager Jayne Kennedy said:
“Everyone can take part, and the funds raised help to provide an invaluable service to children and families.”
“We took part last year and will again this year by encouraging staff to make a donation and hold a Wear Red Day cake sale as well.”
To take part in Wear Red Day, you can download a pack and register at chsf.org.uk/events,
or donate to the event by texting WEAR19 followed by £1, £2, £3, £5 or £10 to 70070.
ENDS