MEET THE Wonder Women who raised £2,000 for poorly children with a family fun day in Denholme.

The quartet, who all have children saved by Leeds Heart Unit, came together to organise the superhero-themed event at the Mechanics Institute.

Crowds flocked to the venue for activities such as pony rides, bouncy castle, balloon release, tombola and raffle, and stalls selling cakes, children’s sandwich boxes and sweets.

The youngsters were able to meet Katie Bear, the mascot for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, along with Paw Patrol characters.

The mothers are Heidi Pattison from Cullingworth, Anna Hunter from Bradford, Freya Carroll from Eldwick and Rebecca Rodgers from Fell Lane in Keighley.

They had all carried out previous fundraising on their own for the heart unit but the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund put them together to organise bigger events together.

Rebecca’s daughter Isabelle was born in 2014 with hydroplastic right heart syndrome, meaning she had no right ventricle, and she underwent her first open-heart surgery when she was just five days old.

Following a cardiac arrest at seven days old, her chest was opened to massage her heart, and she was put on a life support machine.

Over the next few months Isabelle had many more operations, blood tests and scans, and like many other babies treated by the heart unit she faces further surgery as she progresses through childhood.

Like Rebecca, Heidi was diagnosed with heart problems during pregnancy and was cared for by the unit before, during and after the birth of daughter Autumn-Rose.

Heidi said: “We will always fundraise for Leeds Heart Unit after it gave our daughter the gift of life.

“A year later our paths crossed again when Autumn-Rose’s brother Ted was born premature and lost his fight at just four days old.

“The care and support we received from Leeds has been second to none. They are truly our real-life heroes.”

Anna, whose daughter Evelyn receives regular treatment for her five heart defects, and her family have raised at least £4,500 for the unit with activities like walking Hadrian’s Wall and cycling from Liverpool to Leeds.

Freya Carroll’s son Albie underwent 12 hours of major surgery at eight weeks old, and she and her family have raised money with many events including a £31,000 Love Heart charity ball.

Visit chsf.org.uk for further information about the work of the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and how to donate money.