Companies are pledging their support for Wear Red Day 2022
This year, we are proud to say, marks the 10th anniversary since Wear Red Day was created in February 2012. To celebrate, several businesses have already pledged their support to make this year’s Wear Red Day bigger than ever – and really spread the message far and wide across Yorkshire and beyond!
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund exists to help strengthen the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, which is now considered to be a world-class centre of excellence. Its global reputation is thanks to people like you.
Can you help us to sustain this life-saving support by taking part in Wear Red Day 2022 on Friday 4th February?
Wear Red Day was founded by parent supporter Carmen Greene and her sister Emma. They set up the campaign to raise vital funds in 2012 when Carmen’s 5-year-old son, Ciaran, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and awaiting open heart surgery.
Wear Red Day was started in 2012 by a heart parent whose child Ciaran was awaiting open heart surgery.
Since then, CHSF has run this fundraising campaign every year and their legacy has grown in popularity. To date, we have raised over £330,000 through Wear Red Day alone! We would love to celebrate this milestone and aim even higher this year.
Carmen says: “I’m so proud of what Wear Red Day has become and achieved through Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and their supporters. We never imagined it would raise this much money for patients with congenital heart disease.”
“Please help us celebrate the 10th anniversary this year, and take part in whatever way you can to help future children and families.”
We have created a pack of ideas to help your business get involved with Wear Red Day 2022. This includes the Red Decade Run, where we challenge you to run, walk or relay ten miles for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund! Or can you turn your office building red? CHSF try to turn as many buildings and landmarks red as we can!
Some corporate supporters already signed up include the following:
Pharmacy2U are delighted to be sponsoring Children’s Heart Surgery Fund on Wear Red Day. This helps to support the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and the children who are being treated there and the impact on their families. At Pharmacy2U, we’re all about giving people one less thing to worry about, by making repeat prescriptions simple and delivering medication for on-going treatment to people’s homes, for free.
Ciandra Birnbaum at Pharmacy2U
Stowe Family Law are proud to support CHSF with a donation towards Wear Red Day, a wonderful celebration of the charity’s 10th anniversary. Wear Red Day ensures the important work for children and adults with congenital heart disease across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire continues well into the future.
Tom Suttill at Stowe Family Law Leeds
Whilst Clarion’s signature colour is purple, on Friday 4th February we will be dressing from head to toe in red in support of CHSF on their 10th birthday of Wear Red Day.
We are delighted to be able to continue our fundraising for the charity and raise awareness of congenital heart disease in our region. This year we have organised a selfie competition for our team at Clarion and prizes will be awarded for the Best Individual in red and Best Team shot too! Bonus points will be awarded for the best red props and backgrounds. Photos will be posted on social media and so be sure to look out for @ClarionLaw
Sophie Morley at Clarion Solicitors
We are delighted to be taking part in Wear Red Day for CHSF this year to raise vital funds for the charity. We are encouraging our whole team (35 of us) to don their best red attire and a few animals too! Everyone is being encouraged to donate at least the price of a coffee on the day. We will be sharing our pictures on our social platforms.
As an organisation that has been working remotely for a while now, it’s a great way to bring everyone together and get behind a worthwhile cause at the same time.
Rachel McElroy at Cloud Gateway
B&M Waste are proud to take part in Wear Red Day this year and as our nominated charity in West Yorkshire. Due to the fact the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is celebrating its 10th year we are running the day companywide across all depots.
Cat Hudson at B&M Waste
Sign up at http://chsf.org.uk/wear-red-day to receive your digital fundraising pack full of ideas for how you can get involved on the day.
If you are unable to take part but would still like to support CHSF, then we would really value a donation to help support children and adults living with congenital heart disease and the future 1 in 100 babies yet to be diagnosed.
If you’d like to chat more about fundraising for CHSF, we’d love to hear from you. Email corporate@chsf.org.uk or call 0113 831 4810.
MORE CORPORATE NEWS
Heart warrior Evie is just one of the thousands of babies, children and adults living with congenital heart disease in our region who are supported by CHSF.
Evie’s mummy Chelsea has kindly told us all about their family’s story so far and why they’ll be wearing red this February…
Evie, my miracle, my was born with a rare heart condition – Tetralogy of Fallot with VSD. They found Evie’s condition on my 20-week scan at Pontefract and I got an emergency referral to the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
I was so scared waiting for my scan and when the day arrived I was so nervous. I was just 21 when I found out I was pregnant and they gave Evie a 50% chance of survival.
I was offered the option of a termination, not once but twice. But I wanted to give my girl a fighting chance and boy did she prove them wrong. She’s such a fighter!
I was told Evie would be a poorly baby and would need quite a lot of surgery. They even said she might only live a few hours! She was such a small, cute, little baby. Evie weighed 5Ibs 11oz and she was beautiful.
As well as her CHD, Evie also has other needs such as profound deafness, muscle delay and Urban Syndrome in her eye.
On the 7th October 2019 Evie did have two Glenn shunts fitted as her oxygen levels were quite low at 75%. However, the surgeons wanted Evie to gain more weight before she was able to receive her full heart repair.
“With COVID still around, I did everything on my own. Nine long hours my girl was in theatre but I had such amazing support from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund…”
A year down the line Miss Carin Van Doorn, our superhero, saved my Evie. On 30th October 2020 Evie received her full heart repair.
It broke me mentally. With COVID still around, I did everything on my own. Nine long hours my girl was in theatre but I had such amazing support from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and the incredible nurses. Without the support I received I wouldn’t have been able to do it. Thank you so much for everything.
Evie received a certificate and a Katie Bear from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund after her surgery. She loves her bear!
When she was in theatre, the surgeons noticed Evie’s Glenn stents had fallen into her aorta (this had not happened before). On 8th September 2021, Evie had Cath lab surgery to balloon the stent in her aorta. It couldn’t be removed as it was too embedded.
Yet again, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and the ward were incredibly amazing! Evie’s valves are still leaking and will need a valve replacement when she’s around 10 years old, fingers crossed! I know I will receive the best support from the Charity!
Evie is doing better than ever. She’s such an amazing, beautiful, happy three year old little girl who loves life so much.
She’s now at school and does everything a three year old child would do. Evie loves to paint and play with her friends and dolls!
We’ve been raising money over the past year for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, doing two different fundraisers.
The first one on Wear Red Day 2021, just 8 weeks after Evie’s major surgery. Evie walked 5km and raised an amazing £700. And then a full year later, for her heart anniversary, raised a further £1085!
This is all for the charity that saved my daughter. I just wanted to give them something back and the money that is raised for this charity will help my Evie and lots of other children in future.
“…the money that is raised for this charity will help my Evie and lots of other children in future.”
Please join in with Wear Red Day on Friday 4th February 2022. This is a very good and important charity who not only save lots of young children’s lives but also put a smile on their face with things such as a Katie Bear teddy.
Smaller charities like CHSF aren’t noticed as much and they should be because they are incredible. Thank you so much for everything.
Chelsea Holder, mum to heart warrior Evie
Wear Red on Friday 4th February for children like Evie and raise vital funds and awareness of congenital heart disease.
Get your FREE fundraising pack here
Would you like to tell your story? We are always looking for families to feature on our blog to raise vital awareness and understanding of congenital heart disease.
Click here to share your story
During the first lockdown heart warrior Owen decided he would like to do a Stair Climb Challenge to raise funds for CHSF…
…and it wasn’t long before his classmates wanted to step up to the challenge and get fundraising!
Owen researched the how many steps it would take to climb world landmarks
Owen’s mum Stephanie told us a little bit about how his fundraising idea came about…
During lockdown Owen decided he would like to do a Stair Climb Challenge for charity! He thought he would be able to climb enough steps to make it to the top of the Blackpool tower (1036 stairs – or up and down our stairs 77 times!).
We (Mum and Dad) thought this was a little optimistic and that he would be lucky to make it up Big Ben (399 steps) without complaining or losing interest.
However, Owen was very keen and completed a lot of research comparing the heights of different buildings.
The challenge was shared with the rest of his Year 1 class at school and we gained lots of eager recruits. In total 18 children joined in (with the help of some older and younger siblings!
The enthusiasm, motivation, determination and the encouragement they had for one another was astounding. They even had a shout out on Stray FM and a few created colourful Heart T-shirts! The number of steps increased at a steady pace and the sponsorship kept rolling in.
Our chosen charity was Children’s Heart Surgery Fund as Owen has a “special heart” as he calls it, and when he was first born he had a stay on the heart ward at the Leeds Children’s Hospital. The charity helps heart families in so many ways – they provide family accommodation for parents whose children are having surgery, vital clinical equipment but also small things like a teddy and a medal for those children who have had open heart surgery.
“The enthusiasm, motivation, determination and the encouragement they had for one another was astounding.”
By the end of the challenge, the children had climbed an AMAZING 22,706 steps (or 1,621 times up and down our stairs!) and the sponsorship totalled over £1,525!
To put into context what they have managed to climb, they have climbed UP and DOWN all the following:
That’s Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower, Canary Wharf, Blackpool Tower, Forth Rail Bridge, Elizabeth Tower, Sydney Opera House and the Millennium Dome…phew!!
Never underestimate what little legs can achieve!
PICK YOUR PEAK
“Together on Wear Red Day we climbed a mountain for CHSF!”
A class or school can virtually climb a mountain together. Just divide the amount of stairs they each have to climb – all whilst wearing red of course!
MONT BLANC
30,420 STEPS
MOUNT KILIMANJARO
38,680 STEPS
MOUNT EVEREST
58,070 STEPS
Step up to the challenge and move mountains to raise funds for children like Owen on 5th February.
Sign your school up for Wear Red Day and receive your free pack full of fantastic fundraising ideas
Got another idea? Need some help?
Our fundraising team are always on hand to talk through ways you can support CHSF and offer advice. Just call 0113 831 4810 or email lisa.williams@chsf.org.uk
Heart warrior Sophia was born in May 2020 with complex heart problems and was christened in the neonatal unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
We spoke to Sophia’s mummy Charlotte about her little heart warrior’s journey so far…
Sophia was born in May 2020
Our journey started on 10th May 2020 – the day Sophia was born.
The amazing midwife suspected something wasn’t quite right when Sophia was born at Airedale Hospital and asked for a second opinion. Sophia ended up in the special care unit having a heart scan and before we knew it, she was being moved to LGI by Embrace.
It was identified straight away that she had a seriously complicated heart problem. We spent the first couple of days of her life thinking she wasn’t going to make it due to how complex her heart condition was.
Sophia was christened at two days old in the neonatal unit. Then we were given some hope.
The amazing Carin Van Doorn and team believed they would be able to do surgery but gave us 50/50 chance of survival due to the complexity of restructuring Sophia’s heart.
Her open heart surgery happened at four days old and was long and terrifying. But Sophia came out of the other side after a few turbulent moments on the way.
Ten days later, due to Sophia having so much fluid on board, she finally had her chest closed. A few days after Sophia had her ventilator and last chest drain removed.
But the following day the ventilator and chest drain went back in.
Sophia after her open heart surgery
“Doing all of this alone due to COVID has made it even harder. Being apart from my son breaks my heart…”
Sophia now had chylothorax and her chest was full of fluid, making it really difficult for her to breathe. Around the same time, we found out Sophia had DiGeorge syndrome which they tested for after realising she didn’t have a thymus in surgery.
For a few days there was a lot of uncertainty as to whether Sophia was going to pull through.
Slowly and with lots of medication her chylothorax seemed to start clearing up and eventually her drain was removed again.
After seven weeks on a ventilator she came off it and finally started feeding again (at 1ml per hour to begin with).
At eight weeks old we finally left intensive care and moved to HDU on Ward L51. This is where Sophia received her lovely Katie Bear from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
Sophia is now 11 weeks old. We have moved out of HDU but are still on the ward now. The only thing keeping us here now is her feeding as her reflux is preventing us from being able to move on to bulk feeds.
I think we have learnt slow and steady is the way forward with Sophia. It really has been a rollercoaster of a ride.
Charlotte can’t wait for the whole family to be together
With every step forward it’s felt like we have taken a step backwards but hopefully we are getting there.
Doing all of this alone due to COVID has made it even harder. Being apart from my son breaks my heart but hopefully we will be home as a family soon.
Sophia is the strongest little warrior. All the staff at the LGI have been absolutely incredible. The room at Eckerlsey House has meant I can be near my princess all the time.
We are still going to have a huge journey with Sophia due to DiGeorge but we will deal with it as a family. She will need further heart surgery when she’s older. For now though we just want to make it home so that her big brother can finally give her a cuddle.
“We just want to make it home so that her big brother can finally give her a cuddle.”
I want to say thank you to the midwife and the special care unit at Airedale, the neonatal unit and PICU.
Ward L51 at the LGI – as well as all the surgical team and everyone that has been involved in Sophia’s care at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.
Eckersley House where we have been staying while Sophia is on the ward.
And finally Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. Without all of you we wouldn’t be where we are now. You really can work miracles.
UPDATE
Since this blog was written, Sophia is now at home with her mummy, daddy and brother.
She currently loves being at home, where she rolled over by herself for the first time at seven months old! Sophia will need further keyhole surgery at Leeds in the near future.
Mum Charlotte says: “Wearing red will help to raise awareness around congenital heart disease which is so important. It will also help provide families like us with parent accommodation, which was so important to us during this pandemic, and the Heart Unit with life-saving medical equipment.”
Wear Red on Friday 5th February for children like Sophia and raise vital funds and awareness of congenital heart disease.
Get your FREE fundraising pack here
Would you like to tell your story? We are always looking for families to feature on our blog!
Get in touch with Digital Marketing Manager Olivia on olivia.lewis@chsf.org.uk