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
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...
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...
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...
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING
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...
Game4Hearts: Amy
Heart mum Amy, known online as 'Asphodel Moon', is taking on the Game4Hearts challenge this year for CHSF! Amy’s daughter is now three and had open heart surgery at just 11 weeks old. Read more about her medical journey here. In this blog, Amy tells us how CHSF helped...
Game4Hearts
We're calling for all gamers, from novice to expert, to join our Game4Hearts virtual challenge to raise vital funds for CHSF this November.As the nights get darker and we get closer to the cosy winter season, we are asking supporters to ‘Game4Hearts’ this November by...
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
Youth Day: August 2025
Calling all 13-16 year olds!Sign up for our Youth Day this summerWhen? Tuesday 12th August 2025 Where? Lineham Farm, Leeds [Google Maps] Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm (lunch included!)Join the CHSF team for an exciting day at Lineham Farm this summer! Meet other young people...
#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...
Running for Ruben – Laurie’s 5th Great North Run
Heart hero Ruben was born in 2019 with coarctation of the aorta. He had open heart surgery at just 3 days old, but mum Laurie Higgins says he is now a ‘happy and healthy’ 6 year old thanks to the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit team. Laurie tells us why she has chosen to...
REAL STORIES
Autumn
Autumn was diagnosed with a heart condition before she was born and needed surgery at just four months old at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit. Her mum Katelyn shares what the experience was like for their family - from diagnosis and hospital stays through to...
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...
Maisy
Maisy was diagnosed with Down syndrome shortly after birth, and at just 7 months old, she had open heart surgery at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit. Her mum Laura has kindly shared their journey - from diagnosis, and the care Maisy received, to the support they’ve had...
FAMILY
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...
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...
Support for families: June 2025
"As we reach the halfway point of the year, we wanted to take a moment to share what the Family Support Team has achieved so far in 2025. "Each quarter, we reflect on our progress to help everyone understand the impact we've made. "This update gives a picture of our...
WHAT YOU’VE FUNDED
CHSF donates £15,000 to Eckersley House
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) have awarded a further grant of £15,000 towards Eckersley House, a ‘Home from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust for parents with a seriously ill child in hospital. Since being relocated next to the Leeds Children’s Hospital in...
Support for families: May 2025
"This month we have reflected on connections. We tend to focus on positive outcomes in terms of a successful surgery, a family going home after a long admission or the speedy recovery of a patient - but we sometimes forget those small wins and bonds formed through CHD...
Support for families: April 2025
In April 2025, as well as the incredible day-to-day support from our Family Support team, we're shining a light on our youth support work and the care given to families staying with us long-term on the ward. Every month brings new families, challenges and stories, and...
LEEDS CONGENITAL HEART UNIT
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...
It’s time to get active: School age children and young people
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week we are sharing these fab resources from the Yorkshire & Humber Congenital Heart Disease Network. The theme for 2024 is 'Moving more for our mental health'. Not only is movement super-important for cardiac health, but is...
JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
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...
Can you help CHSF on 6th December?
Join our xmas collection! It will soon be that time again when we look for donations as Leeds gets busier with Christmas shoppers. We are looking for volunteers to come and help us out at our Christmas Collection on Friday 6th December 2019 at Leeds Train Station....
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