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 scale by pooling financial resources, improve efficiency and drive better use of resources through shared expertise. It can also enable them to reach a wider audience through their respective networks.

Here’s just four examples of how CHSF work together with charity peers to make a difference in our region – thanks to your donations…

Tiny Tickers

CHSF have worked twice with Tiny Tickers to help fund vital cardiac sonography training across hospitals in the Yorkshire region, once in 2016 and again in 2021.

It is clear that spotting a heart defect early can greatly improve a baby’s chances of survival and long-term quality of life.

Thanks to your donations, this training has made a huge difference to children with congenital heart disease and their families.

“We’re very grateful for the support of our friends at Children’s Heart Surgery Fund – it’s always great to work with CHSF, who share our aim of helping to save the lives of babies with serious cardiac disease.”

Jon Arnold, CEO Tiny Tickers

Leeds Hospitals Charity

The hugely important hybrid theatre at Leeds Children’s Hospital was funded due to donations from CHSF – through their Keeping the Beat appeal, and by Leeds Hospitals Charity.

The cardiac hybrid theatre opened its doors in 2019 and allows cardiac surgeons and cardiologists to perform surgery at the same time, meaning the skills of both specialists can be employed together, reducing treatment time for patients.

CHSF supporters funded the state-of-the-art equipment within the theatre, with Leeds Hospitals Charity looking after the cost of the infrastructure and building.

“We’re extremely excited that the Children’s MRI and Cardiac Hybrid Suite is now officially open; this operating theatre is a fantastic example of what can be done when caring people come together to achieve something wonderful.”

David Welch, former CEO of Leeds Hospitals Charity (then Leeds Cares)

Heart Research UK

Back in the 1960s, Dr Leon Gerlis – a pathologist and paediatric cardiologist, added enormously to the scientific understanding of congenital heart defects by building a collection of preserved human hearts.

The Gerlis Collection, consisting of 785 human hearts with defects, is currently being brought to life via 3D holograms and models in a project co-funded by CHSF, Heart Research UK and Leeds Hospitals Charity.

This innovation will empower healthcare professionals with advanced training tools and aid patients, families and the public in visualising congenital heart defects.

Heart Research UK also helped CHSF co-fund a revolutionary MRI Baby Pod, enabling Leeds to lead pioneering research into new technology for imaging babies with congenital heart disease.

The Sick Children’s Trust

CHSF have offered parent accommodation ever since their humble beginnings at Killingbeck in 1988, and have gifted over £565,000 in donations to home-from-home Eckersley House since 2010.

Eckersley House gives families with a seriously ill child at Leeds Children’s Hospital a place to stay just minutes from their hospital bedside, free of charge.

It costs around £30 to provide one night’s accommodation for worried parents at Eckersley, and CHSF’s donations have also been pivotal to help fund vital renovations.

“We are so grateful for yet another generous donation from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, who have been wonderful supporters of Eckersley House over the past 14 years.”

Jane Featherstone, CEO of The Sick Children’s Trust

CHSF continue to fund Eckersley House thanks to your donations, most recently donating another £15,000 in September 2024 because of you!