This Fundraising Friday there’s so much – we’re bringing it to the blog – we honestly can’t thank you all enough!

Find a little more about each fantastic fundraiser below:

• The Adam Hague School of Dance raised funds at their show in support of CHSF, in the top left corner is Kian who had surgery at 11 weeks old and also starred in the show!

• Emily Laycock created some hamma bead designs and collected donations, great work Emily.

• The Jones Family held a heart party for their daughter Emily who had open heart surgery at 7 weeks old
• Leah Kitchen organised a heart party for family and friends after being cared for by The Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.

• Here are our lovely staff in Outpatients who organised a raffle to support CHSF with Malcolm who won guess the name of the bear.

• The Beckett Family held a 1^st Birthday party for their son James with a raffle and collected donations.

We’d love to see even more pictures and stories! Send us a message on social media or drop an e-mail to bravehearts@chsf.org.uk

Our latest fundraiser of the month is Lottie Eastwood who has been inspired by her daughter Ava.

Ava had open heart surgery in January 2017 at 18 months old to repair a partial atrioventricular septal defect accompanied by leaky valves.

Lottie is extremely passionate about raising both awareness of congenital heart disease (CHD) and donations for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF):

The charity itself was a massive help when Ava had her open heart surgery. People were always on hand for help and support for us as parents. Accommodation funded by CHSF was also offered to us during our hospital stay which was extremely handy as we live around 85 miles away from Leeds. Once we reached the end of our hospital journey Ava was presented with a Katie Bear of her own, plus a certificate and medal for her bravery which really was touching and made her smile during one of the hardest times of her life. I was also astounded as to how much of the machinery that was used during Ava’s stay was funded by CHSF too!

Following Ava’s surgery at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, Lottie and family have undertaken numerous fundraising activities:

I have done raffles from home and online, and held a mini charity event for close friends and family at a local village hall last summer raising just over £400. I recruited the support of a local school and friends and family for Wear Red Day 2017 and they have also taken part and raised funds for Wear Red Day 2018.  I would like to take part in a charity skydive in the near future…..eeeeek!

Lottie had this advice for others considering organising a fundraising event for this charity:

My advice for other fundraisers would be to never give up and remember what and who you are doing it for. Not only are you raising funds for an amazing charity, you’re also raising awareness for CHD as not a lot of people are knowledgeable as to how many different types there are, or how it can affect people.

Lottie was kind enough to call us “diamond staff” here at CHSF, but we couldn’t do any of this without the kind of strength and positivity shown by tremendous supporters like Lottie and daughter Ava!

It’s the start of a new year! Are you thinking of fundraising for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund? If you need some inspiration, read on to find out about the fundraising efforts of one of our fantastic supporters.

Alison Austin is Mum to Darcie, born on the 12th of October at a healthy 9lb 2oz. Alison told us:

We thought we had a healthy but chilled out baby girl. Eight days later, our world was turned upside down.

Darcie’s family noticed she had irregular breathing. They were sent to Chesterfield Royal Hospital where everything changed.

She had a narrowing of her aorta and it was thought that a valve in her heart may close shortly after birth.

Darcie survived as the valve remained open. She had to be taken to a neonatal unit and put on drugs to ensure her valve remained open whilst she waited for a specialist ambulance to bring her to Leeds General Infirmary. Alison recalls:

We had a very poorly baby. Darcie needed surgery but she had an infection so they delayed the surgery until she was strong enough. A week later (28th October) she had open heart surgery, at 16 days old. There were many ups and downs during that period but we had a fighter.

Alison, whilst in the hospital knew she wanted to do some fundraising for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, discovering the charity funded vital equipment that helped Darcie during her time in intensive care and on the ward.

The care we received in Leeds was absolutely amazing and we want to give something back to this charity to help other babies and children like Darcie.

Darcie’s Dinner was held at Baldwins Omega in Sheffield on the 28th of October – exactly a year to the date of Darcie’s surgery. Thanks to Alison’s and her family and friends efforts, all the tables were filled with over 200 guests attending.

They held an auction, a silent auction, and a raffle – and the auction alone raised £6,000!

Alison had managed to secure some fantastic items to auction including a week in Spain, VIP tickets to a football match, signed sports gear, a luxury one-night stay in a Leeds hotel and a Blue John pendant made exclusively for the dinner by a family member.

It was a fantastic evening where people enjoyed excellent food, wine and good company.

Alison didn’t stop there! She also ran the Chatsworth 10k raising about £1,500 and a Jazz night at the school she works in, raising £500.

We hope Alison and Darcie’s story inspires you to organise your own event. If you’d like to get involved with CHSF,

to find out more.

It’s a new month and we want to share with you the story of another fantastic supporter who has been raising money and spreading awareness for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF).

This month’s fundraiser of the month is Adam Broadbent. His daughter Ayla was born with several heart defects including Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), a narrowing aorta, an open duct and pulmonary stenosis.

Little Ayla had to go through two open heart operations and a catheter procedure (stent placement) within the last year. Adam said:

She has tackled lots of complications along the way including a cardiac arrest and a small brain haemorrhage, but has recovered really well. She will still need further operations as she grows older and is under close supervision by specialists.

Thanks to your support and donations, CHSF have been able to support the Broadbents. Adam said:

CHSF has made our lives much easier, they have provided us with support, accommodation, reassurance and they always reflect a positive attitude no matter how difficult the situation is.

Adam has also supported us by organising a huge fundraising day at Keighley Leisure Centre, supported by all the brilliant staff who work there.

Their fundraising day included raffles, refreshments, inflatables, tennis, stalls, football, table tennis and much more.

From this event alone, Adam’s efforts raised a whopping £5,282 alone!

Michelle, Lee, Katelyn and little superstar Reggie (another heart baby) came to the fundraiser, we’ve stayed in touch since day one and it’s always lovely to see them. I also have a JustGiving page for Ayla which currently has £560 in it. We have some more fundraising events planned for next year, including a fishing event (early May), a cycling event and we’re also looking into walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks all in aid of this excellent charity.

If you’re feeling inspired to get into fundraising by this story, Adam suggests:

Just every little helps. Give yourself plenty of time to plan and prepare, be positive and kindly ask for donations.

Find out more about fundraising for CHSF on our

.

We’re so pleased to report NHS England has given the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit the official green light to stay open.

NHSE today confirmed it is satisfied with the progress of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in meeting standards for congenital heart disease services introduced in 2016.

Children’s Heart Surgery Fund were instrumental in keeping the Unit open in 2013 through the successful Save ou

r Surgery campaign.

And thanks to generous donations from you – our supporters – for almost three decades, we will be celebrating its 30th anniversary of supporting patients and their families in 2018.

Sharon Coyle, CEO of CHSF said:

We are thrilled to hear today’s news, as finally, the families of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire have certainty. Without the support of our families, patients, community, MPs, councillors and corporate partners over the years, we wouldn’t be open today. We must now look to the future and our aim is to carry on supporting the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit in reaching the new standards set out by NHSE.

And LTHT Chief Executive Julian Hartley said:

This news is very welcome – we are delighted that we can now confirm our ongoing status as a provider of this vital service. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our staff at the Leeds congenital heart surgery unit: they have continued to provide world class treatment and care for our patients throughout. I’d also like to thank our supporters and advocates, particularly the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, who have helped us to reach this point.

A massive thankyou to everyone who continue to support the charity and Heart Unit, and keep your eyes peeled for news on our 30th anniversary celebrations for next year!

We’re thrilled to welcome legendary cricket umpire and commentator Dickie Bird OBE as our charity ambassador.

What’s more, Dickie has donated £30,000 of his own money towards our

.

His heartfelt engagement with young patients and their families during ward visits has been inspiring to see, not to mention staff – it gives everyone a huge boost.

Dickie told us:

To see these youngsters, it’s given me a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Sick babies having surgery at that tender age, who are suffering – I can’t think of a better cause. I’m delighted to help Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit with my donation, and feel privileged to become their ambassador.

Here’s some key facts about Dickie’s career to date:

• Born in 1933 in Barnsley
• Played for Yorkshire and Leicestershire between 1956 and 1964, scoring 3,314 runs in 94 matches
• Made his debut as a Test Umpire in July 1973, overseeing England v New Zealand at Headingley
• Umpired 92 One-Day Internationals and 3 World Cup Finals
• Retired from umpiring in 1996 after officiating 66 Test matches
• Received an MBE in 1986 and awarded OBE for services to the sport and to charity in 2011
• Has received 4 doctorates from Universities including Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam and Bradford
• Appointed president of Yorkshire County Cricket Club 2014-2015
• Was Voted Yorkshireman of the Year at the Yorkshire Awards in 1996, and won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the same event earlier this year

We’re sure Dickie’s generous donation, and influence in our region as ambassador, will be felt by generations to come.

We thought the annual event Trustees’ Week was an excellent opportunity for a blog!

Trustees play a huge part in shaping our future and here’s an insight into what they do and why they are important to our development.

Our current board of trustees is made of a team of excellent individuals that offer their expertise and input in many different areas.

Paul Goodwin, Partner and Client Director at Mercer, joined Children’s Heart Surgery Fund as a Trustee this year and says:

My daughter had surgery for congenital heart disease at LGI when she was 6 days old and we were in hospital for 2 weeks with her. I’ve seen first-hand the incredible work done by the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit. For me, my involvement as a Trustee is all about giving something back to a charity I really believe in. I also enjoy being part of such a wonderful cause, and using my experience to help guide fundraising and marketing plans.

Becoming a charity trustee is clearly a rewarding experience. It’s an opportunity to give back to the community and feel part of something.

Our trustees offer us strategic direction and help us to balance charity objectives with a wider view.

Not only that – they help to make sure that we are compliant with laws that may affect us – which of course is vital to our activities. One of our trustees is Mark Curle, Head of Legal & Secretariat at TD Investing.

They all have great influence across Yorkshire and the wider area, helping us link to other businesses, and opening up opportunities beyond our current network.

Simon Maule, Director at Linstock Communications said:

As a trustee, I enjoy applying the skills and experience gained in the business world to help Children’s Heart Surgery Fund achieve its goals.

It’s rewarding to drive positive change and have a social purpose.

Our diverse group is made up of senior clinicians, business people, community leaders and parents of heart patients, allowing us the opportunity to seek input from a wide range of backgrounds.

For example, trustee Miss Carin Van Doorn, Head of Congenital Cardiac Surgery, gives us vital insight into the current needs and future direction of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit

We’re grateful that these hugely important stakeholders dedicate their invaluable time to putting our vision, purpose, and values into practice.You’ll hear more about our trustees as we celebrate our 30th anniversary next year! Look out for more information soon.

Marie Lees is this month’s Fundraiser of the Month. She’s been working hard to raise money and spread awareness for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF).

She also provides fantastic help to the marketing department in her capacity as director at local media agency Wolfstar.

Marie chose to fundraise for CHSF fund after her eldest son Ben (3 years old), received life-saving treatment at Leeds General Infirmary.

He was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries, coarctation of the aorta and a large ventricular septal defect following her 20-week scan.

Ben underwent surgery twice, first at 9 days old and then again at 8 months old.

Whilst Ben was undergoing treatment, thanks to your donations, Marie and her husband could stay in CHSF-funded accommodation. Marie said:

The children’s cardiac nurse specialists have been a huge support. They’re just a phone call or email away if we ever have any concerns. This has meant that we’ve been able to get on with life as normal, they’ve alleviated any anxieties we have had. It’s a fantastic charity run by a very dedicated team of people who make a genuine difference to many people’s lives.

On October 9, Marie challenged herself to complete the PlusNet Yorkshire Marathon, dedicating each of the 26.2 miles to an individual whom had received treatment at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.

To find out the story of each individual,

.

Marie advises other fundraisers to have a clear focus on what they want to achieve and a plan of how they are going to achieve it.

It’s thanks to supporters like Marie that we can provide the resources our patients need.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can help, visit our

page for more details.

Claire Cauvin and Miguel Moore went the extra mile to fundraise for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

Daughter Hallie was born in February and has congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA).

She was diagnosed antenatally at 20 weeks and admitted to hospital after she became short of breath at just three weeks old.

In the gruelling four months which followed, Hallie endured two heart surgeries, plus a gastrostomy insertion and stomach procedure.

Claire and Miguel stayed in Brotherton wing and Eckersley House during Hallie’s hospital admission.

Without this parent accommodation, funded by your donations, they would have had to travel 1 hour each way daily to be with their baby girl.

Claire adds:

The charity provide brilliant toys and enable lots of fun things for the children who are resident on the ward. Hallie loves the fish and we spent a lot of time watching them.

On August 13 this year, Miguel and his friends decided to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks in aid of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

The additional team members were Gavin Shearer, Chris Hextall, Jimmy Moore, Ray Waddington, Tim Wilkinson, Matthew Abbott, Adrian Cockshott and Liam Tennant.

The walk took them just under 10 hours to walk 26 miles and they managed to raise a huge £1,712.

Despite a range of aching limbs and blisters, the team felt privileged to do this for Hallie and other heart families out there.

Claire organised the event in a short space of time, set up the online tools necessary to fundraise (

) and promoted it very effectively over social media.

She has the following advice for prospective fundraisers considering taking the plunge:

Set a challenge, and once you have completed this, the feeling is overwhelming and worth every second of pain. It feels so good to be able to give a little bit back.

The family are incredibly grateful to the “friendly and amazing staff” throughout the cardiac unit at LGI.

Hallie will need more surgery within the next year, and the couple are looking forward to doing more fundraising events in the near future!

Toby Strangeway has held repeated annual events for us in memory of his first son Jack.

Jack was born in November 2013 with a serious heart defect known as a complete AVSD.

He underwent open heart surgery at just 3 weeks old for the full repair.

Over the following 6 months, there were a lot of complications and countless ups and downs.

Unfortunately, Jack ultimately lost his battle in June 2014 at Leeds General Infirmary. He had never been home.

Over the last three years Toby has organised two charity cricket matches and an amazing sponsored bike ride from Whitby to Tadcaster which has raised invaluable funds for us.

Toby says:

The advice I would give to other fundraisers is to keep up the good work and enjoy what you are doing. Your support is helping so many families that are going through the hardest times of their lives.

Toby is now married to Jennifer-Leigh and they have another son called Harvey (pictured above).

Toby added:

Me and my wife can’t thank you enough for the help you gave us during the 6 months in hospital. Without your help we wouldn’t have been able to cope. The work that you do is amazing and we are looking forward to doing many more fundraisers in the near future.