written by Kathryn’s daughter Deborah
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is close to our hearts as Millie (my daughter, Kathryn’s grandaughter) was born with Tetralogy of fallot in September 2005.
It was then we were thrown into a whole new world that none of us knew anything about.
Millie had her first shunt operation at a few months old but before that she underwent an operation to unblock her bowel. In May the following year she was also diagnosed with a subglottic stenosis where she had pioneering surgery to take rib cartilage and stitch into her windpipe to reopen her windpipe.
Millie underwent her first open heart surgery just after her second birthday. She then had open heart surgery again 11 years later, in May 2019.
Millie in hospital, 2007
Millie is a keen musical theatre performer, attending performing arts school as well as horse riding and many other activities.
It’s thanks to the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, the amazing surgical staff, nurses…in fact everyone involved in her care that she has grown into the wonderful person she is.
We hold CHSF close to our hearts for the amazing support they provide parents and families who are thrown into the congenital heart world!
We have done fundraising for CHSF in the past. My mum – who also worked in theatres at the LGI until her sudden passing on 13 March – also supported the cause as Millie was the apple of her eye.
Despite her own 45 years working for the NHS in theatres as senior sister/nurse etc she held colleagues involved in the care of these special heart babies and children in very high regard and was eternally thankful for what CHSF have all done for us as well as other families.
So, a fitting tribute to mum and CHSF was to collect donations in lieu of flowers at her funeral. Most of the contributions came from her colleagues and friends who work at the LGI and Pinderfields, where Millie’s grandad also works in theatres and has also given 50 years of service to the NHS.
Deborah and Millie, last month at LGI
A wonderful £530 raised for our heart unit, patients and families in memory of Kathryn Bedford.
Thank you so much to all of Kathryn’s family, friends and colleagues for thinking of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at such a difficult time.
We are so very grateful for your generous donation in support of our work supporting hearts for life.
We can only do what we do because of people like you.
Donating in memory is a touching way to remember a loved one, celebrating their life and supporting a cause which was important to them. You can read more about donating in memory here or get in touch with the team on 0113 831 4810 | info@chsf.org.uk
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Running one marathon is hard enough, but running two back to back? That was the challenge of choice for endurance man James Lacey.
Inspired by heart warrior William and his dad Stuart at local club Messingham Martial Arts, James set himself the tough task of running 52.4 miles to celebrate Williams 10 year heartiversary.
Heart Dad and Chief Instructor at Messingham MA, Stuart, tells us about his son William, their journey with CHD and how the idea for a double marathon for CHSF came about:
Nearly 10 years ago my youngest son, William, was born with a hole in his heart and soon after, diagnosed with congenital heart disease.
After being told he would be lucky to live passed his first birthday if nothing was done, William was successfully operated on and had open heart surgery at the age of just 6 months. This was during a time that the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit was under threat of closure.
Everyone at the hospital was so supportive, professional and focused on what needed to be done, whilst also supporting me and my wife as we obviously were very worried and scared for our baby boy. This was all despite the worry about the future of their department and the pressure of possibly closing!
At the time I raised £1,500 to help the ‘Save our Surgery’ campaign set up by CHSF. I did this by training to do a half marathon but didn’t quite meet my target of £2,000.
William (6mths) after open heart surgery
In 2012 the heart unit at Leeds was under threat of closure and CHSF, patients and families campaigned to keep it open
Listen now to Stuart and James being interviewed on BBC Radio Humberside on the day of the Double Marathon Challenge.
James had never run a double marathon before
Skip forward to this year, coming up to William’s 10-year heart anniversary, I had been thinking of an idea to say another thank you and to let the charity and staff know we had not forgotten what they did for our family.
Outside of work, I also run a community martial arts club, Messingham MA, and we often find causes to support by donating our funds, just to help a bit. But this time we wanted to do something much bigger.
This is where James Lacey comes in. James is a parent of one of my first ever students to sign up with us in 2014. He is an avid runner and he had set himself the challenge of running a double marathon, but he wanted to do it for a good cause.
James approached me, knowing what our club does to support its community, with an idea of making this challenge a fundraising event and asked me if I had any idea of a charity to do this for. This fell perfectly with plans to raise funds for CHSF.
“Thank you for doing all the things behind the scenes people don’t realise just wouldn’t be there without CHSF.”
James has completed half and full marathons before but never anything of this distance, so he set to training knowing it would be put to good use. I contacted CHSF about our event and set to planning and promoting.
During the time of his operation, it was so helpful to be close to William while he was in hospital. We were put up in a room on site so we could be as close as possible to our son while going through preparations, the operation and recovery. The facilities provided on the ward for those in recovery were great. Especially when you think how scary it can be for children, being in an unfamiliar environment as well as what they are going through. The fact that parents can stay with them during this traumatic time is fantastic.
10 years on, everything done at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit has given us a healthy, fit, clever, little boy who is very active. He joins in our Taekwondo classes at Messingham and plays rugby for a local club. He is living life to its fullest and is a very happy little boy.
He is not phased at all by his story and when interviewed by Look North at the half-way point that he is happy that this challenge will help other families in similar situations.
William plays rugby for his local team
William loves doing Taekwondo
If I could give any advice for someone thinking about taking on a fundraising challenge for CHSF, some of the larger donations came from businesses. In return, we offered to post about their company in our social media posts and we also added their logo onto the running shirt provided by CHSF. Living in a village, it came in handy in order to gain local support.
We’d just like to say a huge thank you for all Children’s Heart Surgery Fund does to make what can be a terrifying experience as comfortable as possible. Thank you CHSF for being so understanding and for doing all the things behind the scenes people don’t realise just wouldn’t be there without you.
The businesses who sponsored this challenge that we would like to thank are:
- Messingham Martial Arts
- Old School, Messingham
- The Crown Inn, Messingham
- British Taekwondo Association
- The Horn Inn, Messingham
- M J Chadwick Plumbing & Heating
- Samurai Hearts Martial Arts Academy, Grimsby
- Grey Matters Centre, Scunthorpe
- Cram Vape, Scunthorpe & Gainsborough
- Top Marks Driving School, Malton
- Messingham Friday Night Bingo
- Messingham Juniors Football Club
Our initial fundraising total of £2,000 was very generously matched funded by James Lacey’s workplace DHL, taking the final total to an absolutely incredible £4,036!
Thank you once again to the brilliant James Lacey for pushing himself to cross that finishing line and Stuart Usher for organising such an awesome event to raise funds for CHSF.
An even bigger thank you goes to everyone who made a donation.
Feeling inspired and want to raise funds for CHSF?
We’re always on hand to help with your fundraising ideas. Call 0113 831 4810, email lauren.procter@chsf.org.uk or send us a message using the ‘Chat’ icon on the bottom of this page.
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It’s April and we are applauding the fantastic Kippax Heart Families once again, but CHD isn’t the only thing this group of families have in common.
While thinking about how they could raise even more cash for CHSF they uncovered their mutual love for the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show and a new fundraising idea was born!
We spoke to heart mum Gemma about the event and what inspired the families to fundraise for CHSF:
My son Myles was born with a large ventricular septal defect and had open heart surgery at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit aged 10 weeks old.
We were lucky enough to use some of the facilities that Children’s Heart Surgery Fund provide, for example the accommodation so we could stay close to him while he was in hospital. We wanted to, and will keep wanting to, give something back to say thank you! We can’t say thank you enough.
CHSF helped us (and lots of families that we know) by providing many amazing services during Myles’s surgery. Parent accommodation, support from charity employees, a play worker, the famous fish tank on the ward (i can remember showing that to Myles that at just 10 weeks old!) … and much more!
CHSF has also brought our family together with many other local families. I held a fundraiser to raise money for CHSF in 2017 and as I was advertising it about five or more families contacted me to say they too had a child that had CHD and came along to the event.
We now have our own local Facebook group – Kippax Heart Families. We meet up regularly and our group is growing. It’s fantastic to know there’s others out there who have been through the same as you and that you are not alone.
Myles after open heart surgery at 10 weeks old
Myles celebrating Wear Red Day this year
Fundraising we have already completed for CHSF includes: a family day fundraiser in 2017, a ladies night in 2019, this year’s rocky horror night as well as many more smaller events, cake sales, raffles etc along the way!
My advice to anyone thinking of fundraising for CHSF would be pick something you have fun doing and just go for it! Even if you raise 10p, it’s more than you would have donated if you hadn’t done it. And the more people do things like this the more awareness is raised about congenital heart disease.
CHSF Fundraiser Lisa is fab, we love her! She is so dedicated to her job and such a lovely woman. Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is such a worthy charity. They fund so many aspects of a child’s heart surgery journey – even areas you wouldn’t think about. CHSF work tirelessly to raise the vital funds needed to provide amazing care.
Kippax Heart Families handing over an awesom £1,545 raised from the event
Thank you once again to Kippax Heart Families for organising such an awesome event to raise funds for CHSF – and even bigger thank you to everyone who attended, time-warped and donated.
Feeling inspired and want to raise funds for CHSF?
We’re always on hand to help with your fundraising ideas. Call 0113 831 4810, email lisa.williams@chsf.org.uk or send us a message using the ‘Chat’ icon on the bottom of this page.
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Dave Wilson is a loyal long time supporter of CHSF and hosts an annual ball in memory of his daughter Alexa Mae.
In December 2021 Dave hosted yet another successful Ball, raising an incredible £5,000 for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund to support our heart unit, warriors and families.
Alexa Mae’s Story
Our third child, Alexa was born in 1999. She had Down Syndrome, cataracts and when she was a week old, was diagnosed with an AVSD. Her cardiologist, Dr. Parsons advised us that she would require open heart surgery. At eight weeks old, Alexa became very unwell and was transferred to the LGI.
This was a very scary time for us and we had to leave our other two children, aged three and six with grandparents. I travelled to and from our home in Scunthorpe, while Alexa’s mum was thankfully given a room in the hospital that allowed her to stay close to Alexa.
Alexa’s surgery was complicated and her recovery was slow. During this time, we were in awe of the dedication and skill of Miss Carin Van Doorn and the surgical team, nurses and support staff. We felt that she was in the best of hands at all times and our needs, as her parents, were considered throughout.
Dave hosts a charity ball each year in Alexa’s memory
Alexa returned home but still had a leaky valve so we knew that she would require further surgery at some point. With the very great care of her cardiologists, Dr Parsons and Dr Gibbs she remained well until she was 9 when she was again transferred to LGI for a mitral valve replacement. Unfortunately, this time, her heart was enlarged and the surgery and subsequent pacemaker insertion did not lead to recovery.
She was then transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, while still ventilated, in order to be placed on the heart transplant register. Alexa received a Berlin Heart device under their care but sadly suffered a stroke before a heart was found. She passed away a month before her 10th birthday.
The death of our beautiful, brave little girl was utterly devastating but without the incredible work of the Children’s Heart Surgery Team at LGI, we would not have had the joy of those wonderful years.
Dave Wilson said: “I am very lucky to have amazing family and friends who have supported all of Alexa’s family over the years and long may it continue.”
Senior Community Fundraising Manager Lisa Williams said: “Thank you so much to Dave and Alexa’s family. Your fundraising continues to make a huge difference to the patients and families we support. Alexa’s legacy lives on.”
An incredible £5,000 in heart warrior Alexa Mae’s memory. Thank you so much to all who attended!
Thank you Dave for continuing to support Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and organising your annual charity ball.
We appreciate your hard work, time, effort and very generous donations.
Feeling inspired and want to raise funds for CHSF?
We’re always on hand to help with your fundraising ideas. Call 0113 831 4810, email lisa.williams@chsf.org.uk or send us a message using the ‘Chat’ icon on the bottom of this page.
MORE FROM THE BLOG
Yorkshire turned red this year with support from all across the region’s press
This year marked the 10th anniversary since Wear Red Day was created in February 2012. With your help, we asked press from all across Yorkshire – and further afield – to help us celebrate the occasion. And they didn’t disappoint!
News spread from Leeds, Halifax and Bradford all the way down to Kent and Devon about Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, congenital heart disease and our tremendous heart community. Here’s a round-up of the online stories YOU created to help us raise vital funds.
The mum of 17-week old Charlie urged everyone to support Wear Red Day with this story. Charlotte Hillyard praised the “truly amazing” care of the cardiac team at Leeds Children’s Hospital and urged people to fundraise and “wear red” in their honour.
About CHSF, Charlotte said: “There is constantly an ear to listen if you need it and we know that if there was anything we needed, someone would be on hand to help us in any way possible.”
Story by Joanna Wardill at Yorkshire Evening Post
Heart hero Luca is a pupil at St Oswald’s Primary School in Guiseley, and his mum Lindsay and reception class teacher Katy Miller were inspired to organise a Wear Red Day fundraiser for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
Lindsay said: “The help and the support we have felt as a family right from Luca’s first operation at eight days old to the introduction to other heart families going through their own heart nightmare from the CHSF is amazing.”
Story by Daniel Sheridan at The Yorkshire Evening Post
Savannah was in intensive care for several weeks and wasn’t allowed home until she was three months old.
Savannah Simpson-Grant is now approaching her second birthday thanks to the “wonderful” work of CHSF says mum Fran. Her pregnancy was fraught with worry after she was told by specialists that her daughter had developed congenital heart disease and a number of serious issues.
Fran said: “As a family Wear Red Day is so important to us to help raise vital funds and awareness for the congenital heart disease (CHD) community. Almost 1 in 100 babies are born with CHD and awareness is so little – we need to make it known.”
Read the full story at Leeds Live
Leigha-Mae
Max
Evelyn
Leigha-Mae Stones, aged six, from Newbold, was diagnosed at birth with multiple heart conditions including a hole in the heart. She had to undergo two surgeries at the LCHU, the last of which was open heart surgery in August 2021.
Read Leigha-Mae’s story in The Derbyshire Times
Max, aged two, who lives in Hipperholme, had open heart surgery at just four weeks old. His condition of Truncus Arteriosus was diagnosed following an anomaly at Amy’s 20 week scan, and the family were referred to the LGI.
Read Max’s story in The Halifax Courier
Fellow heart hero Evelyn has had three major heart operations – at four weeks old, seven months old and five years old. Her most recent surgery was in February 2020.
Read Evelyn’s story in The Bradford Telegraph & Argus
George was born with a heart condition called Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), meaning his heart’s main arteries were the wrong way around. Mum Keren spoke about the difficult moments she and George spent isolated and away from the rest of their family during the pandemic while he was being treated.
Read about George at The Huddersfield Examiner
And last but not least, two Harrogate pupils – Henry and Alex – encouraged people at their local school to wear red in support of CHSF. Both boys are firm friends, and have done so well in raising awareness and funds for charity!
Read about Henry and Alex at The Harrogate Advertiser
Henry and Alex complete with Katie Bear who was given to Henry by the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit
Wear Red Day is over for another year and what a day we had celebrating with you all!
Don’t forget to share photos of your Wear Red Day fun with us on social media, using the hashtag #WearRedDay or email your photos to us at info@chsf.org.uk.
Still need to pay in your Wear Red Day fundraising? Click here
MORE LATEST NEWS
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 Elves and one very special conductor!
We spoke to heart dad Ken Hall and heart mum Natalie Varley about what inspired their families to fundraise for our cause…
We are a group of families based in Kippax, Leeds who all by chance met through Facebook as we all have children with a congenital heart defect. This Christmas Party fundraising event was run by two of these families with lots of help and support from all of our friends!
OSCAR HALL
Oscar was born in 2014 with undiagnosed TGA (Transposition of the Great Arteries) and within a few minutes of him arriving, the midwives knew there was something wrong.
A few minutes later, the ICU support teams came into our delivery room and Oscar was taken away for assessment. Later that evening, we were told that he either had an infection or there was a problem with his heart.
A number of hours passed by and eventually we were greeted by Dr Dominic Hares who explained Oscars condition and what this would mean for him. Due to the nature of the condition, he performed an emergency balloon septostomy to allow the chambers of the heart to mix.
At day 9, Oscar had a full arterial switch performed by Carin Van Doorn and after a few bumpy days, he made an amazing recovery. We were able to come home from hospital around 10 days post op.
Oscar has regular check-ups at LGI and still under consolation with Dr Hares. We will continue to fundraise for the CHSF as we don’t know if he will need surgery again in the future and knowing this charity is here to support us and other families, it helps make the journey that little bit easier.
RUBY VARLEY
Ruby was born in 2009, six weeks before her due date, with no indication at birth there was anything wrong. It wasn’t until her poor feeding, sleepiness and not keeping her feeds down meant more thorough checks. They realised at this stage that her oxygen levels were only reading 57% and she was rushed into NICU.
A cardiologist came to assess her the following day and diagnosed her with complex Tetralogy of Fallot, meaning out of the four defects this condition comes with she had all four of them. We were devastated with this diagnosis, especially when we found that it not only is it incurable and without surgery Ruby wouldn’t survive, but that Ruby would also need continuous surgery and interventions for the rest of her life.
Ruby had her first surgery in September 2009 which allowed us to take her home and meet her family for the first time. She then had more surgery in December 2010 after she deteriorated and was rushed back in. Since then however, Ruby has come on in leaps and bounds. She started school and has done so well.
From 2017 we saw another decline in her health. Ruby started to become tired again and her six monthly check-ups did pick up she was nearing further surgery again. We were able to hold off for another three years as the surgeons hoped that if Ruby could grow a little bigger, they could use bigger valve replacement parts for her heart. This would mean we might go longer again between her next surgeries.
In December 2019 Ruby went back in for surgery and the change in her since then has been astounding. She has shot up in height since and started high school where she is doing really well.
We asked both parents how CHSF has helped their families specifically…
Ken said:
For us, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund helped by providing accommodation in the hospital when Oscar was undergoing surgery. We could see CHSF labels on everything from medical equipment and furniture to essential items like milk and blankets.
Even though we live in Leeds, the accommodation was a huge help as it meant we could be closer to Oscar all the time, rather than travelling home and to the hospital each day.
Natalie said:
During our 12 year journey, CHSF have been by our side the whole time. They have provided free accommodation allowing us to stay with Ruby in hospital and free gym passes if we needed some time out to clear our heads.
They funded the MRI research that Ruby took part in to make the MRI process for young children more bearable; our Katie bear and medal gift for Ruby; so much equipment, right down to the microwave and cups, plates etc in the parents room.
They really do think of everything to make our time in hospital a less stressful and worrying time. We can never repay them for how they have supported us and other families.
Before this event, both families have done lots more fundraising for CHSF on their own.
The Halls said:
We have done lots of different fundraising events for the CHSF from previous Christmas Parties, Oscar has completed a 40 Mile bike ride, we have taken part in the Superhero walks, run virtual quizzes over lockdown and we currently have a few ideas for 2022 to help raise more funds.
… and The Varleys said:
Over the years we have done quite a few things for the charity along with taking part in CHSF events such as the annual Superhero Walk. I completed the Leeds Virtual 10k last year, created a ‘Get Fit, Give £5’ JustGiving link to raise funds for all the walks, bike rides, runs we were all doing during lockdown. We also gifted some money that a family member left from their estate after their passing as the charity was always close to their hearts. We have plenty going on next year too!
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to fundraise for CHSF?
We have had a lot of success with different fundraising events as we have a fantastic community in Kippax. Our advice would be check out your local town/village Facebook page (if there is one), speak to businesses about your fundraising ideas and above all, have some fun.
We have been amazed at the support we have had locally so speak to people in your area as I’m sure there is always someone willing to help.
Without CHSF our heart journeys would be very different, they are amazing at what they do and always think of ways they can help and it really does. The research side alone means the surgery Ruby will be having next will now be done as a day case so the steps that are being taken to improve patient care are just brilliant.
CHSF is an amazing charity and continues to do some fantastic work supporting families, children and the hospital with research and new technology meaning better care for the future.
Thank you so much for the continued support of the Hall family and the Varley family as well as everyone who attended the Christmas party or helped on the day. A huge £2770 raised for our heart warriors, unit and families. Incredible!
Feeling inspired?
If you would like to fundraise for CHSF, we are always on hand to help! Email lisa.williams@chsf.org.uk or call 0113 831 4810 or get lots of ideas by requesting your free fundraising pack here.
More fundraisers
Hope after her first open heart surgery at Leeds
Hope in hospital after her second open heart surgery in 5 weeks
Baby Hope was admitted to Leeds Children’s Hospital for emergency open heart surgery during the pandemic.
CHSF were there to support Hope and her family during their hospital stay and beyond.
Hope’s mum Leanne talked to us about how CHSF have helped during Hope’s CHD journey and what the family have done to say thank you to our charity…
Back in March this year our baby girl Hope was rushed to Leeds hospital when she was two months old. She was born with heart defects which led to her needing emergency heart surgery. This is when I was introduced to Sarah, the family support worker for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
Sarah helped me while I was in Leeds. I’m from Barnsley so I couldn’t just pop home for bits and to see my other children, partner or family. Even though there was the nurses to talk to it was pretty lonely but Sarah helped me and made me feel supported and not so alone.
Due to the covid pandemic things were harder and I couldn’t use the kitchens in my accommodation so that meant having to pay for meals. CHSF helped support me with food by providing Tesco vouchers too.
You can read Hope’s full story on our blog here
Hope took a turn for the worse and needed a second heart surgery a few weeks later so in total we spent three months at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
It was hard being separated from my partner and children so long so CHSF arranged and paid for a hotel for the night so my partner and children could be with me. I can’t put into words how happy and thankful I was for that amazing gift.
While Hope was on the PICU ward and ward L51 I noticed a lot of the equipment was funded by CHSF. Sarah also brought parent packs in for us with treats and the children get a beautiful Katie Bear teddy and medal after each operation.
Seeing all the amazing things this charity does for families and for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit made me want to help them and give a little back.
I was talking to my Auntie on the phone one night and mentioned how I’d like to do some fundraising for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and for the Sick Children’s Trust who run Eckersley House where I was staying in Leeds.
From then on my Auntie Tania started planning and also got her children involved, Danny and Sadie.
CHSF arranged for an overnight stay in a hotel for Leanne, her partner Mikey and two other children.
Hope spent three months in hospital being treated at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit
Family walked from Barnsley to Leeds
Fancy dress at the fun day!
There was a number of fundraisers planned and we had a target of £5,000. The fundraisers were:
• Sadie did a skydive – jumping 15,000 feet out of a plane.
• Sadie’s partner, Jack, did a 72 mile walk from Leeds to Barnsley…and then back again.
• Big fun day with rides, penalty shootout, stalls, food vans arranged by Danny.
• Fancy dress 24 mile walk from Barnsley to Leeds arranged by Tania. Family and friends walked, including my 8 year old son Kaylem and his friend Harley.
• £500 donation from my Grandparents – Hope’s Great-Grandparents.
• £600 funds raised by my Uncle Paul.
• Lots of other donations from generous people too!
CHSF have supported me and loads more families. With Hope’s condition, she will need more operations and my mind is at ease knowing I have them to support us while we’re there at a difficult time. I can’t thank Children’s Heart Surgery Fund enough.
As for the fundraising, we plan on making it an annual event. We doubled our initial target raising a whopping £11,000 for both charities and we plan on smashing it again next year.
Wow! We have been truly blown away by the amazing support given by Hope’s family and friends. Because of YOU we can keep being there for so many more heart warriors and their families. Thank you.
Hope with her family’s incredible donation to CHSF!
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
“THE FAMILY of an ill little girl may have just counted up how much they have raised following a series of fundraising challenges, but they are already looking to next year to do it all again.”
Read the full article on WeAreBarnsley
Feeling inspired?
Could you step up to the challenge and start fundraising for CHSF?
Got your own idea? Want to try something different? We’re always on hand to discuss your fundraising. Email lisa.williams@chsf.org.uk or call 0113 831 4810
More fundraising inspiration…
Treat yourself to a wicked wander or spooky sprint around your local scary streets this Halloween.
Choose your distance, gather your bravest guys and ghouls to make up a terrifying team – or go it alone if you dare!
Dress to distress and most importantly support hearts for life! Ooo-oo-oo!
1km Wicked Wander.
Perfect for a frightening family or the littlest of legs, plot your 1km route around your local area and start exploring the scary streets to support CHSF!
5km Deadly Dash.
Be simply spooktacular and take on a fearful 5K this all hallows eve! Whether you walk or run this petrifying path, dress to distress for our heart warriors. BOO!
10km Spooky Sprint.
Now things are starting to get scary! Challenge yourself to a terrifying 10K this Halloween. Get the whole ghoul gang together or go it alone if you dare…
WATTS FAMILY
SPOOKY SPONSORED WALK
When Martin and Leanne Watts were told their son had a heart defect their world was turned upside down – only to be told a year later, his baby brother had CHD too.
Nine years on, both boys have had open heart surgery and the whole family wanted to say thank you to the people who saved Harley and Joey’s lives…
Read more about the Watts Family’s frightening fundraising
MORE FUNDRAISING IDEAS
CREEPY CAKE SALE
Cook up some devilish delights and halloween-themed treats. Sell them to family, friends and hungry work mates. Pumpkin pie anyone?
TRICK OR TREAT STREET
Bring a buzz to your street this Halloween! Ask neighbours to decorate their doors, windows or front gardens in the spooky spirit and get everyone involved in judging the winner. Haunted houses could also have stalls outside for brave visitors?
DRESS TO DISTRESS
Add a splash of fright to dress-down friday by getting colleagues to have a charity halloween dress-up day. Whether you’re in the office or working from home, this is a fun way to feel connected and break up the week. Add a suggested donation to join in and have a prize for best dress co-worker!
PETRIFYING PUMPKINS
The most traditional Halloween activity! Bring your school, workplace, family or friends together for a pumpkin carving competition. Charge an entry fee and remember a small prize for the winner!
GOT OTHER IDEAS?
We’re always on hand to chat through your fundraising and help in any way we can. Call 0113 831 4810 or email eve.haynes@chsf.org.uk
FUNDRAISING INSPIRATION
Since 2018, charities across the UK have been taking to social media for one day every October to share the #TickTheBox message with donors, supporters, volunteers and others.
What Is Gift Aid?
When you tick the Gift Aid box, charities receive an extra 25% on top of your donation, provided you’re a UK taxpayer. The best bit? It’s paid by the government, so it doesn’t cost you anything extra!
So, if you donate £10 and tick the Gift Aid box, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund can claim and extra £2.50, boosting your donation at no cost to you.
How do I know if I’m a UK taxpayer?
For a charity to receive Gift Aid, you need to have paid at least the same amount of capital or income tax as the amount your charity would want to claim in Gift Aid. For example, if you wanted to boost a £10 donation through Gift Aid, you must have paid at least £2.50 in tax that year.
When shouldn’t I tick the Gift Aid box?
Gift Aid cannot be claimed on donations that are funds that have been raised by (for example) a bake sale. The money must be your own.
You also can’t make a donation on behalf of someone else. If you are given the donation by someone, and you use your own details (bank details etc) to submit it, it cannot be accepted, even if they are a UK taxpayer.
Is it worth it?
100% yes! We can’t tick the box for you, but when you do we’ll process everything and won’t charge the charity or fundraiser to receive the Gift Aid.
#TickTheBox #GiftAidAwarenessDay
Donate now
Every penny we receive goes straight to supporting our region’s heart warriors. We can only support hearts for life with your help. Please give today.
Jodie ready to walk over 50 miles from Leeds to Chesterfield
Callie in hospital after her open heart surgery
Heart mum Jodie has put her heart and SOLE into fundraising for CHSF.
The sore feet and aching legs were worth it though to say thank you for saving her daughter’s life…
Jodie spoke to us about her challenge and why it meant so much to fundraise for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund…
Our daughter underwent open heart surgery just before her 1st Birthday. Children’s Heart Surgery Fund means so much to us and we wanted to give something back.
There is so much the charity funds. The facilities they are able to provide to the wards; the accommodation for parents; Katie bears; information packs; medical equipment; psychology and counselling…it all makes a world of difference.
When Callie had her open heart surgery we were provided with accommodation as we do not live near Leeds. This was so valuable to us. Not just financially but mentally as well, knowing we were close to Callie while she stayed in hospital.
The Katie Bear teddy Callie was given after her surgery will be something to treasure and the information pack from the charity really helped.
I struggled with anxiety during and after Callie’s open heart surgery and I was able to use the counselling service provided by Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
To raise funds for CHSF we have just completed a continuous, 52 mile walk from Leeds back to our home in Chesterfield.
This was the first bit of fundraising we have done for the charity (although we do play the Lottery and have a go on the raffles when they are around!) We chose to walk this route as we have driven it so many times, it felt quite close…but it wasn’t close at all!
Our advice for anyone thinking about fundraising for CHSF – plan! Take time to plan the details and advertise you event. Don’t be shy in asking people for help and support!
Do something that is a challenge to yourself but enjoyable – do anything you are able to – every little helps. Don’t compare to other people’s fundraising. Every story and community is different!
Callie with her Katie Bear after surgery
Jodie’s husband Kevin joined her on the 52 mile route
Jodie and Kevin at the finish line with Callie and her big sister
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is a charity very close to our hearts. The work they do is amazing and we are very grateful.
And we are so grateful to YOU! Thank you Jodies, Kevin and all your family and friends who joined you along the walking route or donated.
CHSF are only able to keep being there for heart warriors and their families because of you!
See Jodie’s JustGiving page here
Chesterfield nursery raises £1,300 for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund
Staff and youngsters at Callie’s nursery in Chesterfield wanted to get in on the walking challenge. Youngsters at Children 1st @ St Peter and St Paul took on the challenge of walking three laps of their school field – an impressive total of 2,712 steps in 30 minutes!
Feeling inspired?
Could you step up to the challenge and start fundraising for CHSF? We’ve got lots of events to choose from at chsf.org.uk/events
Got your own idea? Want to try something different? We’re always on hand to discuss your fundraising. Email lisa.williams@chsf.org.uk or call 0113 831 4810