06 December 2017
Pippa Middleton surprises children battling heart disease
British Heart Foundation (BHF) Ambassador Pippa Middleton paid
young heart patients a surprise visit after pledging her support
for the charity's Christmas Appeal, spending the morning at the
paediatric cardiac ward at Bristol Royal Children's Hospital to
cheer up patients and listen to the many inspirational stories of
young people living with a heart condition
Pippa, who has been supporting the BHF for over three years also
met some of the BHF's world leading researchers in the field of
congenital heart disease, to find out how they're saving young
lives with their breakthroughs. This included the newly
appointed BHF Professor of congenital heart disease Professor
Massimo Caputo, at the University of Bristol. He and his team
are trying to find ways to stop the hearts of children and babies
becoming damaged during heart surgery.
Each year, around 4,000 babies, are diagnosed with a congenital
heart defect in the UK - that's 12 babies every day with many more
diagnoses later in life. Sadly around 400 of those children die
each year before they reach school age.
Pippa is supporting the BHF's Christmas Appeal which aims to
raise over half a million pounds towards pioneering research into
congenital heart disease. Visit christmas.bhf.org.uk to
make a difference today.
Pippa Middleton said at the hospital:"It was a huge honour to
spend time with such brave children and their peers to hear about
their challenging journeys. I was hugely impressed by the
extraordinary work being done by the medical team. Their sheer
determination and positive energy was inspiring. It was also
fascinating to learn about the pioneering research that the BHF is
funding thanks to the public's generosity, which will help
transform the lives of children like those I have met today.
"Thousands of children are living with congenital heart disease
in the UK, so the need for research is more urgent than ever.
I would urge everyone to support the BHF's Christmas Appeal, to
help give every child born with a congenital heart condition hope
for the brightest possible future."
BHF Professor Massimo Caputo
added:"Congenital heart disease is drastically under-researched.
While there has been great progress in the treatment of heart
conditions in young patients, there are still thousands living with
the burden of these terrible conditions, and hundreds each year who
sadly don't survive. It's fantastic that Pippa took the time to
visit the hospital and spend time with such brave and inspiring
children. It brought a real smile to their faces, which is so nice
to see, especially a couple of weeks before Christmas."
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the BHF said of Pippa's
involvement:"Sadly, many tiny hearts will be struggling this
Christmas. But the support of Pippa Middleton and the thousands of
families affected by heart disease will make a huge difference to
our Christmas Appeal. With the public's support we can find new
ways to prevent and support families who have to go through the
heartache of bringing up a child with congenital heart disease -
the best possible Christmas present"
Visit christmas.bhf.org.uk to
find out more about the BHF's Christmas Appeal.
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