Yorkshire businesses come together to raise funds for children’s heart charity

A Leeds-based technology company is encouraging businesses to join its challenge to raise funds for Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF).

The SPG Group is leading the 10 for 24 Challenge, where participants will run, walk, and jog with a 10kg weight for 24 hours, keeping it moving the entire time.

CHSF will use the funds to help buy a special MRI Safe Mobile Monitoring Unit for the MRI department’s state-of-the-art Baby Incubator. The monitoring unit will give clinicians more detailed oxygen saturation measurements in the poorliest babies before, during and after an MRI.

Leeds is the first centre in Europe to use the Baby MRI Incubator for scans using this process and equipment, which is raising the profile of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit around the world.

Research suggests that as many as 10 children in the UK and the Republic of Ireland undergo heart surgery every 24 hours.

Commenting on the fundraising, Sam Hameed, co-founder of SPG Group and managing director of SPG Resourcing, said: “We’re asking for as many businesses as possible in Leeds to get involved. It will help to maximise the amount of money we raise with the 10 for 24 Challenge and benefit the great work undertaken by Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. They say many hands make light work, and the more people we can get involved, the better.”

The challenge will start at 9 am on 6 June 2024, at Wellington Place, Leeds, and finish at 9 am the following morning.

CHSF helps children from across the region. Children like young Ava Brearley, an 11-year-old girl from Liversedge, West Yorkshire, who needed open heart surgery at the age of 10 weeks due to her birth defects and is now dancing with Yorkshire Theatre Ballet.

The challenge is inspired by the J9 Advisory £100,000 fundraising campaign to raise funds for specialist equipment for local charities: Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, Candlelighters, and Leeds Baby Bank.

Johnny Abrahams, managing director at J9 Advisory, said: “We are really pleased to have our friends at SPG on board with the £100k challenge, which is bringing businesses together to raise funds to buy specific equipment for the Leeds General Infirmary. The support has been overwhelming, and I cannot thank our supporters enough”

Kate Hainsworth, interim CEO of CHSF, said: “The invaluable work of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund wouldn’t be possible without the support of the public and companies like the SPG Group. We wish everyone taking part in the challenge the best of luck.”

To get involved, visit: https://spg-resourcing-144291094.hubspotpagebuilder.eu/spg10for24challenge