How you can help the Children's Heart Unit Fund raise £15,000 to support youngsters during coronavirus pandemic

The Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) based at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, provides lifelong support to youngsters who are born with or develop heart conditions and their families.

It has launched an urgent appeal for donations to help it raise a minimum of £15,000 in the next eight weeks.

The charity urgently needs the vital funds so it can continue to support some of the most poorly children in the North East at this difficult time.

CHUF’s Heart Heroes (babies and children with heart conditions) are at high risk of infection and need regular access to services and care.

Many of which are currently in the region’s hospitals undergoing treatment or awaiting a life-saving operation.

Coronavirus is having a huge impact on this, but CHUF has supported new ways of working to continue to care for those in need.

But at a time when its fundraising has reached a standstill while the UK is in lockdown, CHUF needs donations from the public so its Covid-19 response can continue.

So far, CHUF has put a range of special measures in place to respond to the changing needs of the Children’s Heart Unit at Freeman Hospital and also Heart Heroes and their families across the region. These include:

: An emergency float to feed families staying at Scott House (a home from home for parents and families while children are undergoing treatment) as under Government guidelines around Covid-19 the home’s communal kitchen facilities cannot be used.

: Funding hotel stays and transport for at risk families that cannot stay at Scott House, so they can still be there for their children.

: Funding a complex discharge nurse which is a new role to support CHUF’s liaison team.

: Funding psychology services virtually, which are an essential for families self-isolating.

Charlotte Campbell, Director of Fundraising and Operations at CHUF, said: “Our support is more in demand than ever, while our fundraising, which we rely on to operate, is extremely restricted and events have been cancelled or postponed to keep people safe.

“Our team has worked day and night to find different ways of doing things so the vital support we offer isn’t compromised, and our Heart Heroes continue to feel safe, reassured and updated at all times.

“These new measures are working really well but come at a cost, and without funds coming in we won’t be able to continue which is a huge worry.

“From our hearts to yours, please support us and our Heart Heroes so we can get through this together.”

To donate to CHUF online visit www.chuf.org.uk/donate/make-a-donation/

You can also make a one-off donation of £5, £10 or £15 by texting ‘HEART 5’, ‘HEART 10’ OR ‘HEART 15’ to 70470.

The charity would also welcome support from local businesses who are being asked to contact [email protected]

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