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
Trustee Week: Introducing Ryan Wilkinson
Your name: Ryan Wilkinson Occupation: Tax Director @ BHP, Chartered AccountantsTell me about your heart hero: "My heart hero is Vinnie (my son) who is now aged 4 who was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Thankfully the condition is managed with medication, and no...
Trustee Week: Introducing Sophie Dunn
Your name: Sophie Dunn Occupation: Director of Sales, The MotoristTell us about your heart hero: "My son Leo is 4 years & 3 months and was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, with an additional VSD. Leo had his repair surgery just 11 days before his 1st Birthday....
Support for families: October 2025
“I was most supported whilst we were in hospital and I was away from all my family alone. I remember having visits at the side of the bed and a friendly face to talk to as well as wellbeing trolleys etc!”” - heart mumDuring the month of October... 12 referrals...
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING
#TeamCHSF Dragon Boat Challenge 2025
On Saturday 12th July, the CHSF team will be competing in a Dragon Boat Race - and we'd love your support! Organised by the Rotary Club of Wakefield Chantry and Normanton, it’s a fun day for the whole family. #TeamCHSF will complete against 40 teams from local...
Heart dad, grandad and uncle ride 150 miles inspired by Isabel
Featured in: Derbyshire Times, Worksop Guardian A Derbyshire dad saddled up for a long bike ride to the coast over the weekend to add to the thousands his family have raised for a charity which supported them when his daughter was critically ill as a baby. Hospitality...
Rose’s Library
Rose O’Leary-Hall passed away in September 2023 aged just four, following a series of surgeries and treatments for the ultra-rare congenital condition Interrupted Aortic Arch, which affects only one in 50,000 babies. Rose’s parents Sue and Katie, wanted to give...
CORPORATE
Vital new monitor part of ‘revolutionary MRI process’ for newborn babies
Vital new monitor part of ‘revolutionary MRI process’ for newborn babies. £45,000 has been donated to Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) as part of the J9 Advisory £100,000 Charity Challenge to enable the purchase of life-saving MRI monitoring equipment. The monitor...
Celebrate the Olympics with CHSF
Celebrate the 2024 Paris Olympics with a Children's Heart Surgery Fund fundraiser! 🇫🇷🏅 Go for gold and organise an Office Olympics at work or host a sweepstake with colleagues, family and friends!Olympics Sweepstake Cut out the events that will be featured in this...
Dairygold “Tour De Francis” 127 mile cycle
A cycling team of Dairygold colleagues are taking on the length of the Leeds Liverpool Canal this weekend to raise funds for CHSF. Their inspiration? Heart warrior, Francis! Named the “Tour De Francis” Dairygold Cycle Ride 2024, the team will cycle the 127 miles from...
EVENTS
STEPtember
Walk 125km this STEPtember, and help give every poorly heart the strongest possible start!What is STEPtember? 1 in 125 babies are born with heart disease. Join us for STEPtember, a month-long challenge to walk 125km and raise £125 or more. Whether you're pacing the...
Board Game Night
A night for our young people to have fun, play games and make peer connections!When? Thursday 20th November 2025 Where? Community Space, Wellington Place [Google Maps] Time: 6pm - 9pm Who? CHD Patients (aged 11+) + bring a friend!Join the CHSF team for an exciting...
Paint & Sip
Sign up for our new event 'Paint & Sip' this October Half TermWhen? Monday 27th October 2025 Where? HEART: Headingley Enterprise & Arts Centre [Google Maps] Time: 5pm - 7pm Who? CHD Patients (aged 13+)Join the CHSF team for an exciting evening at our first...
REAL STORIES
Nelly
Nelly was born in February 2024 after a 'normal' pregnancy, but within hours her parents were facing unexpected news. Now, one year after her open heart surgery she is celebrating her first “heartiversary” - Nelly is thriving, and her family have raised over £11,000...
Because Of Carin: Louie
Louie’s journey through complex heart surgery has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this blog, Louie's mum Emily shares the story of their time in hospital, the incredible care they received and the strength their family found through the toughest of times. “On...
Youth Voice: Joseph
"Hello, my name is Joseph, and I am a cardiac child. "I was born with my heart condition and what has really helped me throughout my cardiac journey is music. "At the age of five, I joined Wakefield Cathedral choir - most of the time just staring at the ceiling and...
FAMILY
Support for families: August 2025
“The ability to listen when you’re going through a hard time. Kindness in providing accommodation and vouchers when your child is in PICU or HDU. Empathising with your emotions and being a friendly face. "The highlight for us was our child receiving a Katie bear and a...
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...
Christmas Wreath Making
Adult patients and parents are invited to CHSF’s Christmas Wreath Making When? Wednesday 10th December Where? Joseph's Well, Suite D14 [Google maps] Time: 1pm - 4pm Who? Adults with CHD and heart parentsJoin the CHSF team for a festive afternoon of wreath making! Meet...
WHAT YOU’VE FUNDED
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 CHD animation: Fontan Circulation
Thanks to your donations, we have just released a new animated video explaining the Fontan circulation and how patients with single ventricle heart defects are typically treated. This video was created in collaboration with specialists from the Leeds Congenital Heart...
Carin van Doorn to receive OBE in King’s Birthday Honours
Ms Carin van Doorn (Consultant Congenital Cardiac Surgeon at Leeds Children’s Hospital and CHSF Charity Trustee) has been awarded Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours list. Carin is recognised for her enormous contribution to children’s...
LEEDS CONGENITAL HEART UNIT
Vital new monitor part of ‘revolutionary MRI process’ for newborn babies
Vital new monitor part of ‘revolutionary MRI process’ for newborn babies. £45,000 has been donated to Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) as part of the J9 Advisory £100,000 Charity Challenge to enable the purchase of life-saving MRI monitoring equipment. The monitor...
World Heart Day: Collaboration Is Key!
CHSF work to champion the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit as a world-class centre of excellence, and are proud to have collaborated with other local charities for the greater good in recent years. Working together with like-minded charities can benefit from economies of...
Cardiac visitors from across the pond!
The Congenital Cardiology team at Leeds Children’s Hospital were visited by five Interventional Cardiologists all the way from the USA last week. Visitors included: Prof Vivian Dimas from Medical City Children's Hospital; Prof Gareth Morgan and Dr Jenny Zablah from...
JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
Have YOUR say on the future of congenital heart disease research!
Have YOUR say on the future of Congenital Heart Disease research! A national study has been launched to identify and prioritise the areas of future research in congenital heart disease that are most important to patients, their families, and healthcare professionals....
Congenital Heart Audit: Measuring Progress In Outcomes Nationally (CHAMPION)
The CHAMPION study has been commissioned by the NHS to develop new ways for measuring the quality of services for congenital heart disease services for both children and adults. The purpose of the study is to try and measure what people living with CHD and their...
WE NEED YOUR HELP: Oral Health Project
My name is Jenny Owen and I work in the School of Dentistry at the University of Leeds as a dental therapist. I would like to find out how we can support families of children with long-term medical conditions to look after their child’s teeth. I would like to...
PRESS
The stage is set for brave young dancing star, Ava – Yorkshire Post
"We owe everything to the incredible team at CHSF.” The Yorkshire Theatre ballet stage is set for brave young dancing star Ava An 11-year-old girl from Liversedge in West Yorkshire who was born with two holes in her heart and required open heart surgery aged just 10...
Bringing the Gerlis Collection to Life
The Gerlis Collection, consisting of 785 human hearts with defects, is being brought to life in stunning 3D holograms and models, because of you!Back in the 1960s, Killingbeck Hospital in Leeds pioneered congenital heart defect repairs when knowledge was still...
Zane Tetevano visits children’s heart ward days after his own heart procedure
Leeds Rhinos forward Zane Tetevano paid a visit to the children’s heart ward at Leeds General Infirmary, just days after his own heart operation for congenital heart disease (CHD).Tetevano suffered a stroke in training earlier this year, which was caused by a hole in...
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