News & Events
>
Press Releases & Position Statements
>
Press Releases & Position Statements
>
Be part of the ‘Big Surprise’ in Children’s Heart Week
>
Be part of the ‘Big Surprise’ in Children’s Heart Week
|
For immediate release 26 April 2010 Children’s Heart Federation, a group of charities working to improve the lives of children with a heart condition, invite local people to be part of the ‘Big Surprise’ during Children’s Heart Week, 8-16 May, by holding a ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ or ‘Bring a Bear to Work’ day to raise funds and awareness. While Election Fever may quickly cool, congenital heart conditions have a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of children. Around 5000 babies are born with a malformation of the heart each year, and two out of three of these will survive beyond infancy. Many heart children carry the tell-tale scars of surgery, sometimes needing several operations as they grow up, which is why joining the teddies at the picnic will be Mollies Dollies. These boy and girl dolls, given to heart children going into hospital, have embroidered scars to match their owners. “It’s so easy to focus on the hard side of congenital heart disease,” explains Samantha Johnson of Children’s Heart Federation (CHF). “We wanted to get away from needles, breathlessness and isolation and concentrate on what all children want, regardless of their hearts - a bit of FUN!” CHF’s National Teddy Bear’s Picnic will be at 2.30-5.30 At Fulham Palace, London, on Sunday 16 May. The charity also has resources to help groups organise their own ‘Big Surprise’ picnic or ‘Bring a Bear to Work’ day. “No one would describe life with a heart problem as a walk in the park,” asserts Samantha Johnson, “but through the fundraising, fun times and awareness-raising at the Children’s Heart Week picnics, we can all make life a bit brighter for children with heart conditions.” -- Ends -- Notes for editors:
|
