THE BRAVERY of a four-year-old Keighley girl inspired a black-tie fundraising event for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

Cowling woman Samantha McNally organised the ball after the charity supported her best friend Rebecca Rodgers’s daughter Isabella.

Isabella, who has half a working heart, receives treatment at the Paediatric Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, which benefits from the charity.

So far more than £2,000 has been raised thanks to the ball end of last month at the Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton. Rebecca, who lives in Fell Lane, Keighley, said her daughter had no right ventricle, the part of the heart that pumps blood to her lungs.

She said: “Isabella’s first open heart surgery was when she was just five days old. She has had multiple open-heart surgeries and heart related procedures in her little life and is due her biggest open heart surgery to date within the next year.

“Isabella has been on the receiving end of the amazing care on ward 51 using equipment and staying in accommodation funded by Children's Heart Surgery Fund.

“Isabella’s life-prolonging heart surgery has allowed everyone who loves her time to make so many memories with her. Our way of saying ‘thank you’ is through raising money for the fund.”

Rebecca said the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund supported the work of health professionals.

She added: “It funds vitally-important research and cutting-edge equipment, provides on-site accommodation for families to keep keeping parents near their desperately poorly children, and supplies resources for making a children’s ward child friendly.”

The black-tie ball supported by local companies McNally EV, McNally Mechanical, GB Sofa Co, Bronte Properties and Windle & Bowker. Stephen Garnett Photographic took photographs on the night

So far more than £2,000 has been raised through raffles, games, silent auctions and ticket sales for the event.

Regularly raises money for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

In 2017 she teamed up with three other mothers, who all had children saved by the Leeds Heart Unit, to raise £2,000 with a family fun day in Denholme.

The other mums were Heidi Pattison from Cullingworth, Anna Hunter from Bradford and Freya Carroll from Eldwick.

Crowds flocked to the venue for activities such as pony rides, bouncy castle, a balloon release, tombola and raffle, and stalls.

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

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.

Anna’s daughter Evelyn receives regular treatment for her five heart defects. And Freya Carroll’s son Albie underwent 12 hours of major surgery at eight weeks old.

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