Cardiac charity Heartbeat has received a generous donation of £2,000 from King Edward VI School in Southampton. The funds were raised by students through a series of events organised by the school’s charity committee, including a cake sale and a non-uniform day.
The committee aims to help various charities in the community, and the money raised for Heartbeat will specifically support Cardiac Youth Worker Becky Cutler, whose work at University Hospital Southampton with young people who have congenital heart disease is fully funded by Heartbeat.
“The school chose this initiative because it directly benefits young people in the same age group as its students,” said Community Fundraising and Marketing Manager at Heartbeat, Tanya Harder. “This thoughtful donation will help us provide vital support to young people dealing with cardiac issues.
“It’s incredible to see the students at King Edward VI School so dedicated to supporting local charities. Their decision to donate to Heartbeat and specifically to fund the Cardiac Youth Worker role is truly inspiring. Experiencing a loved one with a cardiac issue at a young age can be extremely challenging, and the school’s commitment to helping their community and fellow students who may be facing this situation is phenomenal.
“A heartfelt ‘thank you’ goes out to the students and staff at King Edward VI School, as well as to the families and friends who generously contributed to their fundraising efforts.”
Neal Parker, Head of King Edward VI School, said: "Heartbeat's work is essential not only to our community but also to those far beyond our region. We are deeply honoured that our pilot Cardiac Youth Worker role has resonated with students at King Edward’s, inspiring them to join our efforts in fundraising to keep this role available to many young people. It’s incredibly heartening to see young people stepping up to support their peers who are living with heart conditions. Their involvement demonstrates a strong commitment to making a difference, and it brings hope for a more compassionate future for all affected by cardiac health challenges."
Fully funded by Heartbeat, Becky reaches out to young people who are either inpatients or outpatients at the hospital, in the community, in colleges, at school or at home, to give them the support they need.