Written by Charlotte, auntie to Rosalie
Nine days after my beautiful niece Rosalie was born, she became critically ill after collapsing in A&E. She was taken to PICU at Leeds Children’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta and a VSD and needed life-saving surgery.
My Sister and Brother in Law’s world was tipped upside down. Words can not describe the emotions and worry you feel as you witness your family trying to cope in such traumatic circumstances. I wanted to help but I didn’t know how…
So myself and three of Kathryn’s close friends – Vicky, Bec and Gemma – decided we would do some fundraising for this fantastic charity.
Me, Bec and Gemma ran the Tatton 10k on the 9th April and Vicky ran 50 miles barefoot throughout April. We were so pleased with all of our runs and achieved personal bests all round.
Our initial goal was to raise enough money to buy some lamb comforters and have them embroidered, to send into PICU and L51 (the children’s heart ward). Then any remaining money would be donated to Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
I had no idea we would raise over three times more than our initial goal. Thank you will never be enough to our incredible friends and family for donating and helping us achieve this.
We are eternally grateful for everything Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit has done for our family and saving little Rosalie’s life!
You are all super humans and we are totally in awe of your dedication, motivation and hard work saving lives, comforting and helping patients and their families cope during the most stressful times.
I can’t wait to do some more fundraising for CHSF in the future. Every penny donated could not be spent any better ❤️
Rosalie’s mum Kathryn said:
“We are so grateful to the girls for their fundraising and for all the generous donations from our family and friends.”
“CHSF are there for you from the minute you arrive with a welcome bag of essentials, a room to stay in, food vouchers, someone to talk to…nothing is too much trouble. Looking back we would have felt very lost without all the support we had from everyone.”
“Leeds Congenital Heart Unit saved our daughters life and we are forever thankful. Supporting this charity for others to receive the best support and treatment is very close to our hearts and we will certainly be doing more fundraising in the future to try and give as much back as we can in thanks for everything everyone has done for Rosalie and us as a family.”
Charlotte, Vicky, Bec and Gemma raised a phenomenal £3,490 for our heart unit, patients and families during their #RunForRosalie fundraising challenge and we are so incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed!
MORE FUNDRAISING INSPO
Fundraiser of the Month: Lil Louie Big Heart
Jess and Callum, parents to heart warrior Louie, organised a Family Fun Day in August this year August. To raise even more funds for CHSF, friends decided to also incorporate a sponsored bike ride too!Jess told us a bit more about Louie’s story and how it inspired...
Fundraiser of the month: The Jackson Family in memory of Roxy
In memory of their beautiful daughter Roxy, who passed away in hospital aged just six months old, the Jackson family took on a powerful challenge - a nighttime hike up Mount Snowdon! Surrounded by loved ones, they climbed through the darkness to raise money for four...
Fundraiser of the Month: Chris Silcock
Chris took on 'The Wall Ultramarathon' on the 14th June 2025 - a 70-mile run along and around the historic Hadrian’s Wall. Chris is a family friend of heart warrior Freddie McDonald. Freddie's family are organising a fundraising ball later in the year and Chris wanted...