5 August 1988
CHSF was started
CHSF started by surgeon Duncan Walker at Killingbeck Hospital, Leeds with the motto “Each Child has a Childhood”.
About CHSF
Our History
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Children’s Heart Surgery Fund was founded in 1988
Since then, we have awarded over £10 million in grants to the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and the region’s supporting hospitals, helping countless CHD patients and their families.
It is all thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the general public, trusts and foundations our corporate supporters, and by the amazing efforts of our fundraisers. It is because of your donations and support through the years that we have a yesterday, today and a tomorrow.
22 August 1988
First big fund donation
The first big fund donation enabled a new PICU theatre to be built at Killingbeck Hospital
15 November 1997
Heart Unit on the move
Killingbeck site closes and the heart service in Leeds moves to Leeds General Informary. CHSF moves to Brotherton Wing Old Nurse’s Home.
15 September 2010
Eckersley House Pledge
CHSF began pledging money to “home from home” Eckersley House to help the parents of CHD patients stay on site. Because of you, that amount is now over half a million pounds!
7 June 2011
Save Our Surgery!
Save Our Surgery (SOS) Ltd is set up to fight the closure of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit
3 February 2012
The first Wear Red Day
Wear Red Day was the brainchild of Carmen Greene and sister Emma, who set up the campaign when her then five-year-old son Kieran was awaiting heart surgery.
Due to it’s success, Wear Red Day was launched as an annual CHSF event in February and is still going strong!
4 October 2012
BraveHearts
CHSF launches Bravehearts magazine, and a special edition follows to promote the fight to “Save Our Surgery”.
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6 August 2013
SOS Campaign Wins!
The Save Our Surgery campaign wins the legal battle for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit to stay open.
2 April 2015
A new look for CHSF
The CHSF brand has a makeover and with it comes a new logo and new colours to represent the four main areas the charity supports – the heart, mind, family and future.
18 March 2016
Keeping the Beat
Keeping The Beat campaign is launched to raise £500,000 towards a revolutionary children’s heart theatre at the LGI. We hit this target two years later, becaus eof you!
5 August 2018
30 years young!
CHSF celebrates 30 year anniversary with ambassador Dickie Bird OBE and moves to 3 Oxford Place, Leeds. Read our 30th Anniversary special magazine here.
23 November 2019
New Hybrid Theatre
New hybrid theatre with equipment funded by CHSF’s Keeping The Beat appeal is officially opened by the Duchess of Wessex.
5 October 2020
Support for families
CHSF introduced our first Family Support Worker to provide wraparound care and support the whole family unit – bridging the gap between the hospital and the Charity. Find out more about Family Support here.
1 December 2020
World Class Unit
Thanks to your dedicated fundraising, and ongoing support from CHSF the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit is now recognised as a “World Class Centre of Excellence”.
29 April 2023
Family Support close to home
Our first ever Cardiac Café in Bradford brought members of the heart community together for conversation, connection and support in a relaxed and friendly setting.
13 November 2023
Dedicated Youth Support
CHSF appointed a dedicated Youth Support Worker, creating more opportunities for young people to connect, build confidence and feel supported as they navigate life with a heart condition.
28 February 2024
Wellbeing Trolley
We introduced the Wellbeing Trolley on the children’s ward, providing activities, comfort items and moments of distraction for patients and families during their hospital stay.
4 March 2025
Youth Voice Panel launched
We want to ensure that young voices help shape our services, campaigns and future plans, so that we continue to provide support that reflects the needs and experiences of the young people we serve.
Where we are now
As we approach 40 years of supporting heart families, CHSF continues to be there at every stage of the journey. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we fund life-saving equipment, provide vital support to patients and families, and create opportunities for connection through our events and community programmes. We’re proud to work alongside the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, helping it remain a world-class centre, while always looking ahead to how we can do even more for the families who rely on us.
Where we are now
As we approach 40 years of supporting heart families, CHSF continues to be there at every stage of the journey. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we fund life-saving equipment, provide vital support to patients and families, and create opportunities for connection through our events and community programmes. We’re proud to work alongside the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, helping it remain a world-class centre, while always looking ahead to how we can do even more for the families who rely on us.
Make a Donation Today
Your support helps us keep being there for our life-saving heart unit, patients and families
Our Mission
We provide tailored support, trusted information and meaningful connections that empower people born with congenital heart disease and their families to live well and make informed choices.
Our Impact
Together we make a huge difference to patients and families living with congenital heart disease in our region. Read our latest Impact Report
