I am urging as many people as possible to get behind a local fund raising appeal to help children with heart conditions.

The Children’s Heart Appeal aims to raise £113,000 for a 3D echocardiograph machine to help children from all areas who are treated at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Sadly, one in 145 children are born with one of the most common forms of birth defects, congenital heart disease.

This is an abnormality of the heart’s structure or function that is present from birth.

The 3D echocardiograph machine is used to assess diseased heart valves and is especially useful for diagnosing problems in newborn babies and infants, because it is easy to use and does not hurt.

Has a child you know been affected by heart disease? Has your family or a family you know been helped by the work of the British Heart Foundation? Would you like to find out more about how you can support the appeal?If your answer is yes to any of these questions, I would love to hear from you.

We need help to make the appeal a success.

Your story could be used to encourage people to support the appeal, so let us know if you are happy to share your story.

Please contact me on 0161 288 7355 / 07718 638159, email mcnallysa@bhf.org.uk or visit bhf.org.uk/mca Shirley McNally Manager Children’s Heart Appeal