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
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...
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...
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
Golf Day
Calling all Golf enthusiasts, join Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) for our second Corporate Charity Golf Day! We’re partnering with the prestigious Otley Golf Club to host a tee-riffic golf day! Otley is an easy-walking parklands course in an enviable setting,...
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...
EVENTS
Sienna | Heart Month 2026
From a prenatal diagnosis to multiple life-saving surgeries, this blog shares Sienna’s incredible journey with Hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS) and the care that carried her through. It also highlights the vital support her family received from Children’s Heart...
Taking the plunge for Tommy
In May, heart mum Shannon will be taking on the Whitby Bungee Jump for CHSF - and she’s doing it for a reason very close to her heart. Her son Tommy who had his first heart surgery at 8 weeks old. "My son, Tommy, had a 6 hour open heart surgery at 8 weeks old due to...
Howden’s Winning Support for CHSF
In 2025 we enjoyed a new connection with the team at Howden in Harrogate who were the winners of our first Children’s Heart Surgery Fund Golf Day.Adam Pearce, Commercial Account Executive at Howden, said: “Myself and Charlie Torrance had the privilege of representing...
REAL STORIES
Sienna | Heart Month 2026
From a prenatal diagnosis to multiple life-saving surgeries, this blog shares Sienna’s incredible journey with Hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS) and the care that carried her through. It also highlights the vital support her family received from Children’s Heart...
Taking the plunge for Tommy
In May, heart mum Shannon will be taking on the Whitby Bungee Jump for CHSF - and she’s doing it for a reason very close to her heart. Her son Tommy who had his first heart surgery at 8 weeks old. "My son, Tommy, had a 6 hour open heart surgery at 8 weeks old due to...
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...
FAMILY
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...
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...
Support for families: September 2025
“You have been wonderful, please keep up the outstanding work” - heart mumDuring the month of September... 7 referrals received for targeted Family Support 7 families engaged with 6 young people and their families worked with and supported Financial support in...
WHAT YOU’VE FUNDED
Family Support Update: Inclusion in action
Mansi Dass joined Children’s Heart Surgery Fund as Family Inclusion Worker in late June. Here’s an update from CHSF’s Head of Family Support, Sarah Cherry on how Mansi is dedicating her time to promoting inclusion, celebrating cultures and raising awareness to bridge...
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 families: July 2025
“Nice to have a chat with a friendly face offering financial and moral support” - parent on the ward During the month of July... 20 referrals received for targeted Family Support 36 families engaged With 12 young people worked with and supported Financial support in...
LEEDS CONGENITAL HEART UNIT
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...
Oral Health Month: The importance of dental health when your child has CHD
The oral health of children with congenital heart disease is particularly important as they are at an increased risk of developing bacterial infections such as infective endocarditis. To celebrate #OralHealthMonth, here’s some important information from experts at the...
Cardiac SALT Feedback #BecauseOfYou
Ward 51 Cardiac Speech and Language Therapist Jess Symonds was appointed last year, thanks to your donations. Speech And Language Therapy (SALT) has the power to transform feeding, swallowing and communication outcomes and improve a child’s quality of life. Jess sent...
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
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B5, Joseph’s Well
Hanover Walk
Leeds
LS3 1AB
0113 831 4810
info@chsf.org.uk
Registered Charity Number:
1148359
Registered Company Number:
8152970