Six children have heart surgery at Kippax primary school, sparking kids' fundraising drive

A generous school community got active during the lockdown to raise over £700 in aid of children's heart surgery in Leeds.
Staff and pupils at the school in Kippax, LeedsStaff and pupils at the school in Kippax, Leeds
Staff and pupils at the school in Kippax, Leeds

Kippax Greenfield Primary School took part in a sponsored stair climb to help raise money for Leeds charity, the Children's Heart Surgery Fund.

The event was part of the charity's Wear Red Day celebrations which saw families, individuals and businesses across the city turn red for the cause on Friday.

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Pupils at the Kippax school - those learning at home as well as in school - all wore red clothes and completed a stair climb challenge for the flagship fundraiser.

Headteacher Kirsty Moleela said they have so far raised over £711 for the charity, which has supported the families of six pupils at the school who have had heart surgery.

She said: "This is a charity we support each year as we have six children in our school community who have successfully undergone heart surgery.

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"This year, the day was part of our Children's Mental Health Week activities too.

"The children set themselves a target of stairs to complete during the day and asked family and friends to sponsor them or make a donation to the charity.

"This fulfilled two of the NHS's five steps to positive mental health: getting physical exercise and giving to others."

As previously reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post, staff at Leeds Children's Hospital's congenital heart unit also supported the fundaiser, wearing red throughout the day.

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Pictures show Emma Marshall, senior registered healthcare play specialist, with colleagues Katie Hathie, ward sister, Osama Jaba, consultant congenital cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical lead for paediatric cardiac surgery and Rebecca Lancaster, paediatric registrar at the unit.

Other supporters included Allo Allo actress Vicki Michelle, who tweeted out her support, as well as staff from the heart fund themselves, one who climbed the equivalent of Ben Nevis on their stairs and another who wore a red all-body suit all day.

Sharon Milner CEO of CHSF said: “We are absolutely over the moon with the response to Wear Red Day in such a challenging period for everyone, and the final total will be announced once all donations have come in. ”

*To donate, text CHSFWRD (plus any £amount up to 20) to 70085 or visit https://www.chsf.org.uk/donate/

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For example, text CHSFWRD 3 to 70085 would give £3 to CHSF. [To give £3 but not receive marketing communications, text CHSFWRDNOINFO 3 instead]

*YEP's Have a Heart campaign

The Yorkshire Evening Post launched a Have a Heart campaign earlier this year, to help the Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) reach its £1m target for donations in 2020.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit, CHSF has been forced to issue an urgent plea for donations after losing a "significant portion" of its yearly income.

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