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LATEST NEWS
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...
Youth Event: Boxing For Wellbeing
Join Tommy Frank for a Boxing for Wellbeing sessionWhen? Wednesday 27th May 2026 Where? Titans Boxing, 157 Morland Road, Sheffield S14 1TE [Google Maps] Time: 10:30am - 1pm Who? CHD Patients (aged 9+)Join the CHSF team for a fab morning with CHSF Ambassador, heart...
Support for families: February 2026
During the month of February... 50 families worked with overall 26 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support 24 families engaged with -- 17 young people and their families worked with and supported 22 Travel Grants given 8 attended Cardiac Cafe 27...
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING
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...
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...
Brownies’ sponsored silence inspired by Olivia
Isabelle attends 1st Allerton Bywater Brownies. She wanted to earn her ‘Charity’ badge and so chose to fundraise for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. By doing so she would also earn her Gold Award before moving up to Guides.Isabelle wrote a lovely letter to the charity...
CORPORATE
Event Sponsorship Opportunities
Care for patients living with congenital heart disease treatment is often long-term, involving multiple hospital procedures and visits. This is a daunting prospect for a child and can be stressful for parents and other family members. One of our main aims is to...
Georgie returns to work
I’ve recently returned from maternity leave to my role at Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, a charity I felt I was destined to work for after losing my Dad to a heart attack in 2017. When I started fundraising for the charity I thought if I could help them it would be a...
CHSF launch new sustainable clothing partnership
CHSF have formed a charity partnership with sustainable clothing brand Unfolded, who have just launched a new children’s clothing range. We’re incredibly grateful that Children’s Heart Surgery Fund will receive 25% of every purchase which will go towards supporting...
EVENTS
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...
STEPtember: Updates
January 2026 Sign up for STEPtember here.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 pavements, hitting the hills, or simply walking to...
REAL STORIES
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....
Trustee Week: Introducing Jason King
Your name: Jason King Occupation: Group Head of People @ Westfield HealthTell me about your heart hero: "My heart hero is my daughter, Amelia, who is currently 18 months old. Amelia was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot before birth and had open heart surgery at 6...
FAMILY
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...
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...
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...
WHAT YOU’VE FUNDED
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...
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...
LEEDS CONGENITAL HEART UNIT
Nurse Sophie is running the London Marathon!
Meet Leeds nurse Sophie Sheard. By day, she's caring for critically unwell babies, children and young people. And when she's off-duty, she's gearing up for the 2024 London Marathon, all in the name of the Children's Heart Surgery Fund!Hiya Sophie! Can you tell us a...
“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...
JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
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PRESS
Priority Space helps move hospital playroom up the agenda
CHSF Corporate Supporters, Priority Space, have responded to an urgent request to help develop a new playroom at Leeds Children’s Hospital for children born with heart problems. The South Yorkshire company has sponsored the complete refit of a newly decorated playroom...
Local charities fund Canadian Fellowship to support children with congenital heart defects in Leeds
An exciting opportunity for an NHS staff member at Leeds Children’s Hospital to undertake a fellowship in Canada has been made possible because of you. Leila Rittey is a Paediatric Cardiologist on the Congenital Heart Unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital; she provides...
A heartfelt goodbye to CEO Sharon Milner
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund CEO Sharon Milner is leaving the post after 16 years in charge. Sharon Milner has led Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) since 2007, fronting the campaign to save the Heart Unit from closure in 2012, and championing the charity’s...
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