RED DAY FOR HEART-WARMING CHARITY

News release

13th April 2011

The parents of a little boy in Lincoln who suffered from a rare heart condition will host a fundraiser at his nursery in honour of a charity which helps children and families going through a similar crisis.

Little Logan Whiteley, who attends The Old Station Nursery in Waterside South, Lincoln, underwent major open heart surgery just 10 days before his first birthday after being diagnosed with Fallots Tetralogy (congenital heart disease) at just six weeks old.

During his ordeal, parents Stacey and Mick Whiteley of Bunkers Hill in Lincoln met the founders of KEEPTHEBEAT, a charity which “gives hope to broken hearts” by supporting the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and offering support and information to children affected by congenital heart disease and their families.

Now the couple plan to host the second annual Red Day on Friday 20th April to raise cash for the organisation ahead of Logan’s third birthday in May.

And this year’s event is being opened up to the general public who can bring their own children down to take part in activities as well as buy raffle tickets for prizes which include an Audi for the weekend, a new flatscreen TV, a Kindle and a day pass for six to CenterParcs. All prizes have been donated by local businesses.

Stacey, 32, said: “The Old Station Nursery has been fantastic with Logan and helping to support this charity event. KEEPTHEBEAT is a really wonderful charity which is why we want to continue to raise money for them. It’s also really important that we raise awareness about the condition and the help that’s out there. His operation was on 22nd April 2010, so we will try to hold the event as close to that day as possible from now on.

“Logan is just like any other little boy now – you would never know he had such a serious condition with how bubbly he is. We’re so proud of him.”

Children, staff and parents will be wearing red on the day and will take part in a variety of activities and party games including a Jo Jingles dance session, pass the heart, hunt the heart in the nursery garden and playing with red jelly for the younger children.

People visiting will also be able to buy KEEPTHEBEAT cupcakes and merchandise to generate extra cash.

And to mark the occasion, 25 red balloons along with one blue one – to symbolise the one in every 25 families who have a heart condition – will also be released. The balloons have been donated by Party Planet in Lincoln.

Senior Nursery Nurse Eileen Castleton said: “This is a charity very close to one of our little boys in the Little Gems room and we have decided to open the event to the public so that we can raise even more money.”

Visit www.keepthebeat.co.uk to find our more about the charity or to make a donation.

Ends

Notes to editors

• The balloon release will take place at 11am,with other activities spread throughout the day.
• KEEPTHEBEAT is a Leicester-based charity established with an aim to provide hope and support to the families affected by congenital heart defects. It supports The East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester which is where all children born with heart defects within the Lincolnshire region are referred. It works across Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and parts of Warwickshire and South Yorkshire
• The Old Station Nursery Ltd was founded by Sarah Steel in 2002 and now runs 13 settings across England.
• To find out more visit www.theoldstationnursery.co.uk

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @cerridelaney

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