In early July 2014, my nephew Noah Paisley was only a week old when he started experiencing difficulties breathing. He was initially rushed into James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough before being conveyed to the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. He was later unexpectedly diagnosed with a life threatening heart condition, Coarctation of the Aorta with Ventricular Septal Defect.

Within 2 days of being diagnosed, Noah received a lifesaving operation on his heart and he is very much on the road to recovery. 

The Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital is one of only two centres in the UK offering paediatric heart transplant and bridge to transplant, with transplant numbers increasing to the point where the unit now provides almost half of the UK’s paediatric transplants. The service provided to Noah and my family by staff at the Hospital was fantastic. 

I aim to complete the Lyke Wake Walk with my friend Robert Granger to raise money for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.  The walk has to be completed within 24 hours and covers over 40 miles across North Yorkshire. 

All money raised will be donated towards new equipment and facilities for the Children's Heart Unit. Thank you.