#FundraisingFriday: November 16

Wetherby Runners: Charity of the Year

ABOVE: Running the Yorkshire Marathon BELOW: CHSF Georgie accepting an amazing donation

Wetherby Runners is a club that prides itself on being a welcoming and friendly running club and also fund raises each year for a local charity proposed by one of its members.

CHSF was chosen for 2018 having been nominated by Debra Wheeler who is the Network Manager for the Yorkshire and Humber Congenital Heart Disease Network and an active member of Wetherby Runners AC.

Debra also has a personal reason for supporting CHSF as her grandson, Sebastian, was born in August 2017 with congenital heart disease and had surgery in Leeds when he was just 6 days old.

On Wednesday 14th November, at the club’s AGM, a cheque for an amazing £2,741 was presented to CHSF.

This was as the result of a number of social events held during the year and proceeds from the very successful Wetherby 10k which is held every year at the beginning of September and attracts over 1000 runners. In addition to this 6 runners from the club took part in the Yorkshire Marathon in October (pictured above), appropriately dressed as Vikings with the CHSF logo on their shields, and through JustGiving raised a further £2,500 for charity!

Bex Rodgers, Heidi Pattison & Anna Hunter: Glitz & Glamour

The ladies said:

We had such a fantastic night at the Glitz & Glamour evening in aid of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund – it was a great success for our first attempt at this kind of fundraiser. Everyone that came along had such a great evening. We managed to raise more money than we expected, especially with only having six weeks to organise it! After the success of our first Glitz & Glamour evening, we cannot wait to organise another one in the Summer – bigger and better! The three of us all have little girls who have been on the receiving end of so much help from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, from accommodation to toys on the ward. We really enjoy fundraising as it is a way of saying a massive thank you for all the support that we have received, and will continue for have, from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund throughout all three of our daughter’s heart journeys.

Simon Gelder: Brave the Shave

Simon BEFORE and AFTER

‘Bravo!’ to Simon who Braved the Shave and clippered away his hair to raise money for CHSF!

My motivation for raising the money is one of my best mates has a daughter named Payton. She was born prematurely and has been in hospital since she was born. Children’s Heart Surgery Fund has been one of the many caring for Payton and to raise money for such a charity means a lot me and the amazing people involved with Payton and her care. She has been a little fighter since the day she was born and I want the charity to continue to help as many children as possible. I would like to thank all the medical staff and everyone who donated to this amazing cause – we are truly grateful.

Lisa Williams: CHSF Community Fundraiser

And last but certainly not least…

On the other side of the cheque presentation this week, CHSF’s very own Community Fundraiser Lisa Williams has been running non-stop to do her bit for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund!

Lisa said:

I wanted to support CHSF because I meet so many inspirational families going through their CHD journey and I see first-hand what an amazing difference our charity makes to these families.

Lisa completed the Leeds 10k and the Leeds Abbey Dash in aid of CHSF this year. She also completed the London Marathon in aid of Global Make Some Noise as they supported CHSF with a large donation, taking Lisa’s donation to over £3,000 for charity this year!

Lisa meets lots of our amazing fundraisers within her role and appreciates the time and effort supporters invest in the charity.

She can’t wait for 2019 and more challenges to come!

Thank you, Lisa!