Be the first to know about CHSF news, upcoming events and how you can get involved.
LATEST NEWS
Congrats Carin Van Doorn OBE
We are delighted to congratulate Carin van Doorn on receiving her OBE from His Majesty The King at Windsor Castle earlier this month. The award recognises Carin's outstanding services to Children's Heart Surgery and Charity during a remarkable career dedicated to...
UK first for Leeds Congenital Echo Team
We're delighted to share some incredible news from the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit Echo department. The Congenital Echo Department at Leeds General Infirmary has become the first congenital department in the UK to achieve Departmental Accreditation from the British...
Support for families: June 2026
"When your child is having open heart surgery in hospital, it is so frightening and worrisome we were just so glad that we had this charity to support us and other families who went through the same thing without your support."-- heart mumDuring the month of June......
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING
About The Big Give #ChristmasCampaign 2025
What? The Big Give #ChristmasChallenge is our Christmas campaign for this year and all donations you give NOW are doubled - but please hurry, the campaign doesn't last long! When? Tuesday 2nd December midday - Tuesday 9th December midday Why? To fund parent...
Fundraiser of the Month: Lil Louie Big Heart
Jess and Callum, parents to heart warrior Louie, organised a Family Fun Day in August this year August. To raise even more funds for CHSF, friends decided to also incorporate a sponsored bike ride too!Jess told us a bit more about Louie’s story and how it inspired...
Fundraiser of the month: The Jackson Family in memory of Roxy
In memory of their beautiful daughter Roxy, who passed away in hospital aged just six months old, the Jackson family took on a powerful challenge - a nighttime hike up Mount Snowdon! Surrounded by loved ones, they climbed through the darkness to raise money for four...
CORPORATE
The jobs market when you’re a ‘first generation’ middle-aged heart patient
"Funny looking pic, isn't it? The above photo is my aorta, mid-operation in 2008, as a truly wonderful team at Leeds General Infirmary battled to save my life. "Not my first heart surgery, but definitely my most dramatic and frightening."I've been involved with all...
Heart hero inspires Welcome Break Charitable Fund donation
Young heart patient Isabel has inspired a huge donation of £7,861 from Welcome Break Charitable Fund to Leeds-based Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF). Isabel’s dad Kevin Morris works for Welcome Break as a Brand Excellence Coach, and he put CHSF’s name forwards to...
New charity partnership with Berry’s Jewellers
Luxury jewellery specialist Berry’s Jewellers have made Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) their charity of the year for 2025. The family-owned company has stores in Leeds, York, Windsor, Nottingham and Newcastle, and staff are set to take on fundraising initiatives...
EVENTS
Zip the Cow: Zip Line challenge
About Zip the CowSaturday 11th July 2026, 11:30am Ilkley Moor Cow & Calf Rocks [Google maps] All CHSF zip line participants will zip as a team at the allocated time slot of 11.30am Join the CHSF team and glide across the stunning scenery of Ilkley Moor between the...
Andy | London Marathon 2026
With the London Marathon just days away, thousands of runners will be taking on 26.2 miles through the capital - each for their own very personal reason. We’re incredibly proud of the runners who are part of #TeamCHSF this year, and are pulling on their trainers to...
Tizzie | London Marathon 2026
With the London Marathon just days away, thousands of runners will be taking on 26.2 miles through the capital - each for their own very personal reason. We’re incredibly proud of the runners who are part of #TeamCHSF this year, and are pulling on their trainers to...
REAL STORIES
Andy | London Marathon 2026
With the London Marathon just days away, thousands of runners will be taking on 26.2 miles through the capital - each for their own very personal reason. We’re incredibly proud of the runners who are part of #TeamCHSF this year, and are pulling on their trainers to...
Tizzie | London Marathon 2026
With the London Marathon just days away, thousands of runners will be taking on 26.2 miles through the capital - each for their own very personal reason. We’re incredibly proud of the runners who are part of #TeamCHSF this year, and are pulling on their trainers to...
Ollie | London Marathon 2026
With the London Marathon just days away, thousands of runners will be taking on 26.2 miles through the capital - each for their own very personal reason. We’re incredibly proud of the runners who are part of #TeamCHSF this year, and are pulling on their trainers to...
FAMILY
100km for Matilda
Heart mum Danielle shares her experience of daughter Matilda’s heart condition – from diagnosis at 20 weeks to the time they spent at Leeds General Infirmary and once home. She’s now taking on a 100km Ultra Challenge to give something back to CHSF after the support...
Support for families: April 2026
"Thank u for remembering me. I can imagine u meet lots of families"-- heart mum, during a 'touching base' callDuring the month of April... 63 families worked with overall 25 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support 38 families engaged with -- 16 young...
Support for families: March 2026
During the month of March... 27 families worked with overall 19 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support 8 families engaged with -- 13 young people and their families worked with and supported 17 Travel Grants given 4 attended Cardiac Cafe 12...
WHAT YOU’VE FUNDED
Support for families: June 2026
"When your child is having open heart surgery in hospital, it is so frightening and worrisome we were just so glad that we had this charity to support us and other families who went through the same thing without your support."-- heart mumDuring the month of June......
Support for families: May 2026
"The support was amazing and the team got me through the hardest time of my life. Amazing support" -- heart mumDuring the month of May... 39 families worked with overall 23 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support 8 families engaged with -- 6 young...
Support for families: April 2026
"Thank u for remembering me. I can imagine u meet lots of families"-- heart mum, during a 'touching base' callDuring the month of April... 63 families worked with overall 25 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support 38 families engaged with -- 16 young...
LEEDS CONGENITAL HEART UNIT
The first place in the world that could change the future for babies like Billy
written by Helena Vesty, NHS, social care and patients reporter for the Manchester Evening News Looming towers, dark red brick punctuated with black window frames, Gothic spires. An imposing Victorian stalwart that has dominated this northern city centre street since...
MRI Coil At LCHU First In Europe
Groundbreaking new equipment for our youngest heart patients at Leeds Children's Hospital. Thanks to your incredible generosity Children’s Heart Surgery Fund has funded a state‑of‑the‑art Snuggle™ MRI coil for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit - the first hospital in...
Carin Van Doorn Portrait Added to Exhibition At Royal College Of Surgeons
On International Women’s Day we are very proud to see Carin van Doorn (former Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit) celebrated as one of the inspirational women surgeons in a new portrait exhibition at Hunterian Museum, London at The...
JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
Join the CHSF team: Fundraising Researcher
Job opportunityFundraising Researcher Help empower the lives of everyone born with congenital heart disease (CHD) in our region. As Fundraising Researcher you'll be responsible for proactively researching potential funders including corporate foundations and community...
Join the CHSF team: Charity trustee
OpportunityCharity Trustee Help empower the lives of everyone born with congenital heart disease (CHD) in our region. Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) is a unique life-changing service driven and inspired by CHD patients in our region, working to enable affected...
Join the CHSF team: Family Support Inclusion Worker
Job opportunityFamily Support Inclusion Worker We are looking to recruit a Family Support Inclusion Worker to join our dedicated team. The role will work collaboratively with families to ensure our support, information and resources are tailored to meet the diverse...
PRESS
15 amazing heart stories to round-up Heart Month
You not only raised significant donations for CHSF in and around February for Heart Month, but with your help we communicated our cause loud and clear to every corner of the region through your stories! Here’s a round-up of just some of the blogs and local news which...
A warm welcome to our new CEO
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) welcomes Ruth Davany as new CEO Ruth will begin her new role in December - replacing Interim CEO Kate Hainsworth, who has stewarded the charity in 2024 and helped to recruit a permanent leader. Ruth comes from her role as CEO of...
Wakefield heart hero set to conquer Great North Run for CHSF
21-year-old Danny Hirst was born with a hole in his heart, which was discovered when he was just 6 weeks old. Danny had open heart surgery in Leeds when he was 11. And he is set to take on the Great North Run to raise vital funds for the charity which helped him and...
Empowered lives, because of you.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Your generosity can really mean the world to children and adults with congenital heart disease across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
Whatever you can give will make a huge difference!
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
B5, Joseph’s Well
Hanover Walk
Leeds
LS3 1AB
0113 831 4810
info@chsf.org.uk
Registered Charity Number:
1148359
Registered Company Number:
8152970