The Love Hearts Appeal, set up by Catherine MacLachlan and her family, is aiming to raise £150,000 to pay for a doctor and nurse for three years to study an innovative therapy for children requiring heart transplantation which would reduce the risks of the new organ being rejected by the body.
And the charity is now looking for people to join it for a cycle challenge from the west coast to the east coast of England in the latest attempt to raise money for the research appeal.
The team of cyclists, which will include Catherine’s father Neil, a consultant gynaecologist at the Hospital, is due to set off from Whitehaven in west Cumbria on 6 September. The 145-mile journey over two days will take them through the Lake District and Northumberland national parks, following sections of the historic Hadrian’s Wall and over the Hartside Pass 1,900m above sea level, before arriving at Whitley Bay.
Mr MacLachlan said: ‘Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the people of Jersey could say that they have contributed to a research project that may open the door to children having fewer side effects from the drugs that they have to take for the rest of their lives to stay alive after heart transplantation?
‘Whilst we don’t have the facilities and expertise to carry out research into heart transplantation in Jersey, we can help raise money to assist in an incredibly exciting and important piece of research that may shape the way the medical profession manages children after this life saving procedure.
‘Let us show that we do want to participate in international research because our, and indeed any, children may benefit from advances made from such scientific collaborative work, and it beholds us all to help support this process. What a great day it would be to have a Jersey-funded research team working at the Great Ormond Street Hospital.’
He added: ‘We sometimes are at risk of taking the Great Ormond Street Hospital for granted – on average there is a child from Jersey visiting the hospital every day of the year for specialist care. Let us show this iconic hospital that we are grateful and give something back.’
The charity, which previously raised £104,000 to fund a new cardiac intensive care cubicle at Great Ormond Street and has raised awareness of organ donation, now wants as many people as possible to join the cycle, which would suit both social and serious cyclists.
The challenge, which follows a London-to-Paris cycle ride in aid of the charity two years ago, costs £85 registration plus a further £320, which covers accommodation and other expenses, with participants then asked to raise as much sponsorship as possible.
For more information about the challenge visit adventurousewe.co.uk/the-love-hearts-appeal-gosh-uk-coast-to-coast-cycling-challenge/ or search for the Love Hearts Appeal in Facebook.
