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
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...
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...
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...
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING
Fundraiser of the Month: Jay Higgins and friends
Jay and his wife Natalie decided when their son George had heart surgery in March that they wanted to fundraise for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.While George was staying on the children’s heart ward, mum Natalie, said... “The longer we spend here the more I notice...
EURO 24 Sweepstake
Will football be coming home this summer? Or will it be another summer of heartbreak? If you’ve got football fever then this sweepstake is just for you!The countdown to Europe's biggest football tournament of the year has begun. The European Championship, commonly...
Fundraiser of the Month: Shane Duffy Manchester Marathon
Shane took on his first ever Marathon last month and he did it to raise money for CHSF! Shane completed the Manchester Marathon to support his friends Dan & Lisa Taylor whose daughter Emillie was born with CHD and has had 14 heart surgeries.We spoke to Shane and...
CORPORATE
Georgie visits the MRI Clinic
written by Georgie Abbott Yesterday I had the privilege to spend time at an MRI Cardiac Clinic headed up by Dr Malenka Bissell. Malenka is passionate about enhancing this clinic to provide the best possible care for babies and children with congenital heart disease in...
Georgie Shadows Play Specialist Emma
It’s the Little Things that have the Biggest Impact written by Georgie Abbott At the start of September we celebrated all our incredible young heart warriors and their families at our annual Children’s Heart Surgery Fund Superhero Walk. It was heart-warming to see...
Georgie visits Outpatients
written by Georgie Abbott What do you think defines a productive and happy team of colleagues? This morning I had the privilege to spend some time with the Paediatric Cardiac Outpatients team at the Leeds General Infirmary and I’m sure all teams could learn something...
EVENTS
London Marathon
About London MarathonSunday 26th April 2026 Registration fee: FREE!Minimum fundraising pledge: £2,000 The London Marathon is an iconic race, that takes runners from Greenwich to The Mall, passing some of the city’s most famous landmarks. As one of the World Marathon...
Manchester Marathon
About Manchester Marathon Sunday 19th April 2026 Registration fee: £60 £30 Minimum fundraising pledge: £650 The adidas Manchester Marathon has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, with the 2024 event hitting capacity in record time despite an increased...
Katie Bear’s Picnic
“If you go down to the woods today…”Meet us for a summer’s picnic with Katie Bear and all her friends.Pack up your picnic baskets and grab your favourite teddy bear - Katie Bear is inviting you and your family for a fun-filled day at the park! Bring your Katie Bear or...
REAL STORIES
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...
Aria’s Story
8-year-old Aria was born with serious congenital heart conditions - coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosis. She required open heart surgery at just 3 days old but it had to be delayed as she developed sepsis. Mum Jodie picks up the story, including their...
Luca’s Story
The awesome team at Enterprise Mobility all got behind their colleague Francesca this February to celebrate Wear Red Day. Francesca's son Luca was born with congenital heart defects and needed life-saving open heart surgery at just one week old.Francesca said: “We...
FAMILY
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...
WHAT YOU’VE FUNDED
Support for families: February 2025
CHSF appreciates that kind gestures - no matter how small - can make the biggest difference to our families. In February 2025, our Family Support team continue to focus on the wellbeing of heart families thanks to your donations, alongside our financial and practical...
Because of you: Our famous fish tank
Thanks to your “fin”-tastic fundraising, CHSF has been able to fund Ward 51’s famous fishtank for many years. Children use the tank as a goal to walk towards while recovering from surgery, while others simply love communing with the watery residents. The fish have...
Because of you: Katie Bears & Medals
Thanks to your amazing fundraising, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) are able to give Katie Bears, medals and certificates to every baby and child who has open heart surgery at Leeds As the following blog shows, this precious gift is truly something to ‘treasure...
LEEDS CONGENITAL HEART UNIT
“Goodbye” from Judith Shackleton
"One of the highlights of the last 10 years…meeting Katie Bear!" "After 38 years in the NHS, I retired. I then returned in June 2023 to continue my full-time work at Cardiac & Neuro Outpatients at Leeds General Infirmary. I am now moving on to take on a more...
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...
Revolutionary valve procedure performed in Leeds
In June this year, the Congenital Cardiology Intervention Team performed a pioneering procedure by implanting a Venus P pulmonary heart valve into an adult congenital heart disease patient. This was the first implantation of this revolutionary valve in Europe after it...
JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
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PRESS
Introducing new charity ambassador Saira Ali
Saira Ali is a Landscape Architect and Team Leader for Landscape, Design and Conservation at Bradford Council. She has joined CHSF as an ambassador for our charity, and told us about her aspirations for the role... Landscape architects play an important role in...
CHSF grant £10,000 to Eckersley House
We are thrilled to announce we have awarded a grant of £10,000 to Eckersley House ‘Home from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust, thanks to your donations. Eckersley House gives families with a seriously ill child at Leeds Children’s Hospital a place to stay just...
CHSF Chair of Trustees Kieran Brady
I’ve been a trustee of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) for many years, and recently I’ve just become Chair of CHSF Board of Trustees. I wanted to share with you all why I’m involved with CHSF and why I’m so passionate about this charity. A few years ago, I really...
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