This #FundraisingFriday we’re celebrating two heroic heart families and a team of their nearest and dearest who have run across the country virtually to keep raising funds for CHSF!
LEO DIXON
Leo was born on 15th March 2014 at 37 weeks at a tiny 3lbs 4ozs after a difficult final stage of pregnancy.
Leo was in the special care unit when it was discovered that he had a hole in his heart – a VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect) and he needed a life saving operation at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
The surgeons would only operate when he weighed 10 pounds so in October 2014, after a six month wait, Leo underwent six hours of open heart surgery to repair the hole.
The operation was a success and Leo was monitored carefully for the coming months.
Leo is now six and is in junior school. He an active little boy and his doctors are happy with his progress.
We are amazingly grateful for the incredible work of the surgeons and without the support of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund Leo may not be with us today.
BONNIE MANTLE
Bonnie and her twin sister Maggie made a surprise arrival at just 27 weeks, both weighed a tiny 2lbs 3oz and spent 9 weeks in special baby care.
Whilst both girls were tiny and poorly, Bonnie seemed to be struggling more. Doctors discovered her heart was pumping blood into her lungs instead of round her body and after failing to respond to the treatment, she needed surgery to close the vein responsible.
She had a PDA ligation at just a month old – when she still weighed less than 3 pounds! Just days after surgery she was a different baby and started to catch up with her sister. Bonnie and Maggie are six now and apart from a tiny scar you’d never know what they’ve been through – total miracles!
The doctors and nurses were just truly amazing. The care and support we received was incredible. The support that Children’s Heart Surgery Fund give really makes the difference to families going through such a difficult time.
After hosting an incredibly successful charity ball last year, Leo’s dad Jonathan tells us more about the latest fundraising idea for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund…
Jonathan says:
Resulting from the success of the charity gala dinner on 22nd Feb 2020, held just before lockdown, we decided that we wanted to raise some more money for CHSF and another charity, Autism Angels.
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund supported both Leo Dixon and Bonnie Mantle as children which we will all be forever grateful for.
On 20th February this year, a group of 12 decided to virtually run across the country, along the route of Hadrian’s wall.
The event started at 7am and ran in a virtual relay style, on the hour until 7pm. Each participant running as far as possible in one hour.
We covered the 146km within the 12 hour period and would have technically got across the country in 11hrs 15mins.
Completing the challenge with me was: Conall Kelly, Will Cousins, Catriona Mantle, Simon Mantle, Lucy Wilson, Richard Metcalfe, Lynne Dixon, Toby Rake, Andrew Wilson, Andy Graham and Rob Graham – a big well done to us all!
The day was finished off with a virtual black tie dinner and some 40th birthday celebrations for me, to add to the evening’s fundraising fun! We are super proud to have earnt over £4K including gift aid to split between the two charities!
Jonathan with his son, Leo
Heart mum Catriona with twin daughters Bonnie and Maggie
We are so very grateful to the Dixon and Mantle families, and all their friends, who took part in this fantastic challenge to raise over £4,000.
Thank you!
#BecauseofYou