A KEIGHLEY mother and her five-year-old daughter are fronting an appeal from the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

Rebecca Rodgers is highlighting the support her family received from the fund when daughter Bella had life-saving surgery at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

She wants to highlight the great support given by the CHSF to young patients who are spending New Year in the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.

With her family – Bella’s dad Steve and brothers Riley and Harley – Rebecca collected and hand-wrapped hundreds of selection boxes for the CHSF’s festive party.

And for the entire festive season she has been lending her support to the Hearts For Life campaign urging local people to dig deep, all while preparing for a new bout of surgery for Bella.

The little girl’s next heart procedure is due early in 2020, and every operation is expected to prolong and give her a better quality of life.

Rebecca said: “Bella was born in December 2014 and had her first open heart surgery at just five days old.

“I remember that time like it was yesterday and every day felt like a week, but the staff made Christmas a joyous experience despite what was happening.

“Bella has just celebrated her fifth birthday, and we are forever grateful to every single person involved in her care at Leeds.

“Please donate to the Hearts for Life campaign to make sure other babies and children like Bella have the best chance of survival.”

Bella was diagnosed with hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS), which means she has no right ventricle. Her heart condition was diagnosed when Rebecca was 20 weeks pregnant.

The Rodgers family have been active supporters of CHSF ever since Bella was born, raising thousands of pounds over the years, and throughout last year they collected and hand-wrapped 400 selection boxes for the CHSF Christmas party.

Rebecca added: “We have made some of the best memories thanks to CHSF, which included the charity Christmas parties.

“We learned that the best way to deal with anything that was thrown our way was to find a positive. That’s why we decided to put our energy into providing treats for young patients and their families.”

CHSF is wholly public-funded, and the annual Christmas party is free for patients recently treated, and their families, thanks to donations from supporters across the region.

Rebecca also stars in the emotive CHSF campaign video, along with Steve and their children.

Visit is available to watch at chsf.org.uk/heartsforlife to donate to the Hearts For Life appeal.