You can help young heart patients climb mountains
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) support babies, children and adults born with heart disease across Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, the Humber and North Derbyshire who are treated at the specialist Leeds Congenital Heart Unit within Leeds Children’s Hospital.
Around 1 in 125 babies are born with a congenital heart defect, and CHSF provide life-saving medical equipment, parent accommodation for families, and essential ward resources. They also provide emotional, practical and financial support for families and fund staff training, scientific research and new clinical roles.
CHSF simply wouldn’t exist without the incredible and continued support of local businesses. You and your organisation could be the next to help them.
Patients and their families often perceive ‘a mountain to climb’ as they face up to medical challenges ahead. Coming to hospital is such a daunting prospect for children and stressful for mum, dad and other family members, not to mention the recovery time following surgery and back at home as an outpatient.
But donations and support can come from the most surprising – and inspiring – of places. Just recently, CHSF received a £5,000 donation from local Moortown boy Oscar Ali. In June, Oscar climbed the formidable peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in just one day with his dad, Dan.
What is even more remarkable is that 11-year-old Oscar was diagnosed with heart disease at birth, and underwent open heart surgery in Leeds in May 2023 to repair a hole in his heart.
CHSF are super proud that Oscar completed this challenge to raise vital funds, but his treatment and recovery was only possible because of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, an organisation CHSF have funded since 1988.
Partnering with a high-profile charity in your community sends a strong and positive message to your staff and customers. Their passionate and creative team will work with you to develop both the relationship and your event ideas to ensure you get the most out of the partnership.
“All of the hospital team were so supportive throughout my treatment. Everybody had so much patience and made me feel safe and cared for the whole time.
The operation was a huge success, and I wanted to give something back to the organisation that has helped me and my family so much.”
Oscar Ali – Moortown Resident
Feeling inspired? Here’s four easy ways you could get the ball rolling right now:
- Does your workplace have a charity of the year staff vote? Tell your Manager or Corporate Relations Team about CHSF and get them into the hat for next time!
- Have you any links to congenital heart disease within your business, family or social network? Please talk to your place of employment about CHSF.
- If you are an employee and would like to help, CHSF would love to hear from you. Email [email protected] and our Corporate Partnership Managers Amanda and Georgie will be in touch!
- Sign up to CHSF’s Christmas Abseil Challenge:
www.chsf.org.uk/jingle-bell-drop
Your partnership with CHSF will make a world of difference to local heart patients and their families, just like Oscar.
Find out what other local businesses say about working with CHSF.
