In 2009, at just 14 years old I underwent my first open-heart surgery. It was an incredibly difficult and frightening time for me and my family, but thanks to the extraordinary skill, dedication, and compassion of the medical team at the Freeman Hospital, they didn’t just save my life — they gave me a future.

CHUF’s mission is to make life better for children and young people who are born with or who develop heart conditions. They provide lifelong support to them and their families who receive treatment at the Children’s Heart Unit based at the Freeman Hospital.

They fund vital equipment, facilities, staff training, and research — all of which go beyond what the NHS alone can provide.

For me, this isn’t just a charity; it’s a lifeline. I know firsthand the difference their work makes, not just in saving lives, but in improving the quality of life for every patient they help. Now, it’s my turn to give back.

I’m raising money by swimming the distance of a marathon (26 miles), so CHUF can keep doing what they do best: giving children a fighting chance.

Every donation, no matter the size, plays a part in giving someone else a future — just like CHUF gave me mine.

Thank you for the bottom of my *mended* heart!

Zehra x