Be the first to know about CHSF news, upcoming events, activities and how you can get involved and help support hearts for life.
LATEST NEWS
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...
Youth Event: CATCH Day at the Farm
Join CHSF and CATCH Leeds for a day helping out at the farm and walking alpacas!When? Monday 10th August 2026 Where? CATCH, Hovingham Ave, Harehills, Leeds LS8 3QY [Google Maps] Time: 10am - 3pm Who? CHD Patients (aged 11+)Join the CHSF team for an exciting day at the...
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING
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...
Fundraiser of the Month: Chris Silcock
Chris took on 'The Wall Ultramarathon' on the 14th June 2025 - a 70-mile run along and around the historic Hadrian’s Wall. Chris is a family friend of heart warrior Freddie McDonald. Freddie's family are organising a fundraising ball later in the year and Chris wanted...
Nick Buckley: 125 miles for CHSF
After his daughter was born with CHD, heart dad Nick decided to take on the awesome challenge of walking 125 miles for the 1 in 125 born with a heart defect. At first, he thought he'd be walking along - but in April he completed his challenge with an army of friends...
CORPORATE
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...
Yorkshire Three Peaks
Join CHSF for the formidable trek up Yorkshire’s finest three peaks, Pen-y-ghent (2,227 ft), Whernside (2,415 ft) and Ingleborough (2,372 ft). The 2025 Children’s Heart Surgery Fund Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge will be delivered in partnership with Jonathan...
EVENTS
Florence Dottie: Heart Month 2026
Florence’s journey into the world of congenital heart disease began long before her family were ready for it. What followed was a difficult mix of fear, medical decisions and tiny moments of hope that carried them through.Mum Kelly, from Halifax, said: “Florence’s...
Rowan: Heart Month 2026
“The time in hospital was a very scary time and the resources that CHSF provide are invaluable. “CHSF is an amazing resource for children with congenital heart disease and their families!"Mum Sarah, from Grimsby, said: "Our local hospital discovered Rowan had a...
Abdul Mu’eed: Heart Month 2026
"I realised there is a whole community of heart warriors and incredibly strong parents who truly understand this journey. “There will be hard days. There will be moments of fear and exhaustion. But there will also be strength you never knew you had, love that carries...
REAL STORIES
Honey is home, because of you!
“After 7 weeks in hospital, we are finally home with our little girl - Honey. “Honey has been through more in her first 7 weeks of life than most of us will in a lifetime. "Born with a heart defect - coarctated aorta - she’s battled a chest infection, a...
Rowan: Heart Month 2026
“The time in hospital was a very scary time and the resources that CHSF provide are invaluable. “CHSF is an amazing resource for children with congenital heart disease and their families!"Mum Sarah, from Grimsby, said: "Our local hospital discovered Rowan had a...
Abdul Mu’eed: Heart Month 2026
"I realised there is a whole community of heart warriors and incredibly strong parents who truly understand this journey. “There will be hard days. There will be moments of fear and exhaustion. But there will also be strength you never knew you had, love that carries...
FAMILY
Support for families: January 2026
During the month of January... 46 families worked with overall 28 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support 18 families engaged with -- 4 young people and their families worked with and supported 12 Travel Grants given 7 attended Cardiac Cafe 25...
Family Day at the Farm
Join Katie Bear at the farm for a day of springtime funGet ready for an egg-cellent day at Cannon Hall Farm with Katie Bear and the CHSF team! Take part in lots of springtime fun including a scavenger hunt with a tasty easter egg reward, outdoor and indoor play and a...
Support for families: December 2025
During the month of December... 38 referrals received for targeted Family Support 39 families engaged with 11 young people and their families worked with and supported 337 families supported in 2025 As we look back on the year, we reflect with pride on what the Family...
WHAT YOU’VE FUNDED
Support for families: January 2026
During the month of January... 46 families worked with overall 28 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support 18 families engaged with -- 4 young people and their families worked with and supported 12 Travel Grants given 7 attended Cardiac Cafe 25...
Support for families: December 2025
During the month of December... 38 referrals received for targeted Family Support 39 families engaged with 11 young people and their families worked with and supported 337 families supported in 2025 As we look back on the year, we reflect with pride on what the Family...
Support for families: November 2025
“That was the best night sleep I had in weeks! You don’t realise it, but having those beds there when I needed it was amazing”” - heart dad - about CHSF-funded parent roomsDuring the month of November... 24 referrals received for targeted Family Support 12 families...
LEEDS CONGENITAL HEART UNIT
Olympians living with CHD
If you’re anything like us, you’ve been hooked on the halfpipe and swooning over the skaters while watching the 2026 Winter Olympics. With this year’s games taking place in Milano Cortina, we wanted to take a moment to highlight Olympians past and present who were...
CHSF nominated in Smiley Charity Film Awards
CHSF needs your votes in the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2026! Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is up for an award in the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2026, the world’s leading campaign celebrating films for good, and is calling on the public to vote and help their film...
Support for Heart Families on the Neonatal Unit
The neonatal unit (ward L43) cares for babies who need extra help after they are born. This includes babies born with heart disease, and we asked Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Jenny Naylor to describe how CHSF work with NHS staff to support patient’s families...
JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
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...
Join the CHSF team: Events Fundraiser
Job opportunityEvents Fundraiser As Events Fundraiser at CHSF you will be responsible for developing a professional fundraising relationship with our family supporters, individuals, and groups across the community of Yorkshire, The Humber, North East Lincolnshire and...
PRESS
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...
11-year-old heart warrior Oscar climbs three mountains in a day for CHSF
Yorkshire Evening Post2nd July 2024 An inspirational 11-year-old has scaled three mountains in a bid to raise funds for a charity that helped him while he was in hospital. It took Oscar Ali just one day to climb the formidable peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike 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