Happy Summer Dayz

Our Association was selected as part of the One Stop and Mondelez (formerly Cadburys) ‘Happy Summer Dayz” campaign which ran from 15th July 2014 to 13th August 2014. During this time, those who won the One Stop store family days out competitions could nominate a charity to receive a donation to the same value as their prize.

In all, there were five charities that could be nominated, including the Children’s Heart Association, and we received an super total of £278. Thank you to all those who supported us! We look forward to using the money towards family events in the near future.

Pulse Oximetry Screening Recommendation

The Children’s Heart Federation (chfed.org.uk) have been campaigning for all babies to receive the Pulse Oximetry test at birth to detect Congenital Heart Disease. This quick, painless and cheap test measures oxygen levels in blood and can detect over 90% of critical heart defects in newborns.

The UK National Screening Committee has now recommended the use of Pulse Oximetry Screening on newborns and has announced today there will be a national pilot. Here are links to the announcement:

http://www.chfed.org.uk/babies-are-set-to-receive-heart-test-to-save-lives/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-national-screening-committee-recommends-new-test-for-newborn-babies-with-heart-disease

The announcement is receiving some media interest and has appeared on the Telegraph online:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10813377/All-newborns-to-undergo-heart-tests.html

Win free places at the CHF Dragon Boat Challenge

The Children’s Heart Federation are giving away a friends and family place at their exciting Dragon Boat Race day in London on Sunday 18th May.

Your group of family, friends or colleagues will enjoy a fun day of rowing down the river Thames (no experience necessary). As well as a BBQ and a bar there is a full day of entertainment with magicians, street performances, face painters, and much more!!

Details on how to enter the competition can be found here but note that the closing date is 5pm, Wednesday 30th April. Winners will be drawn at random.

If you are not a lucky winner, you can still register for their fantastic Dragon Boat Race Day and get more information by visiting the CHF Dragon Boat page.

Good luck!

Hollyoaks’ Stephanie Davis backs heart campaign

There was a recent and sad storyline in Hollyoaks where a character’s baby died before her heart condition was recognised. The Children’s Heart Federation were involved in the writing of the storyline and asked us to get involved too.

A recent event involving the cast and CHF had a massive impact on Stephanie Davis, who played the mother of the baby. Stephanie has pledged to support the CHF’s Think HEART campaign to raise awareness about the early detection of congenital heart disease.

Read more about the event and the campaign on CHF’s website, and there’s another article on the DigitalSpy website.

Safe Play Indoor Play Centre visit

Stockley Farm Visit

Parents and young people needed for discussion group on heart surgery

The Children’s Heart Federation needs parents and young people to join their study to help better understand what impact heart surgery has had on you or your child and family. They are organising a discussion group for young people (15 – 18 years) and one for adults and parents in our office in London. This will involve you attending a group of around 10 other parents or young people and answering questions about yours and/or your child’s experiences with heart conditions. Further focus group meetings are planned in Birmingham and Glasgow.

If you would like further information or to take part please see the flyer on the Children’s Heart Federation website.

Liverpool Naval Club Charity Night

Liverpool Naval Club is holding a charity night and proceeds will go to Children’s Heart Association, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and also the purchase/training of a heart definbrillator for the club. If you’re interested please contact the club directly.

Fundraiser

Good luck to Matthew Cripps who’s taking part in a cycling challenge in Lancashire in May. He’s raising money for the Children’s Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Federation, check out his Virgin Money Giving page to see how he’s getting on.

Children's Heart Association

When a child is diagnosed with a heart problem it is a difficult time for the whole family, we would like to help

All posts by Matthew