A family has taken on a trio of fundraising challenges to raise money for Evelina London, which saved their son and brother’s life after he was born with serious heart problems.
George Warner-Bryce was born in 2014 at St Thomas’ with six congenital heart defects – including a hole in the heart, arteries the wrong way round and an underdeveloped right side of the heart.
He went through three heart operations over the next four years. The second almost went badly wrong and George had to be resuscitated three times. The family said this had no lasting impact on his development.
Mum Hannah, 33, a teaching assistant, said: “We decided to take on three fundraising activities to give back to the hospital that has given us so much. We want to help other children like George to get the very best care.”
Despite her fear of heights, she ran up the Eiffel Tower. George’s brother Alfie, 13, did a virtual cycle of 350km. Dad Richard, 37, abseiled down the side of St Thomas’ hospital to complete the challenges.
Hannah added: “Evelina London is a special type of hospital, they feel like family. The staff took the time to get to know us when I was first seen in the fetal cardiology department, and continued being so supportive with all of George’s treatment.”
The family raised £2,700 in total from their exploits.
Dr Owen Miller, consultant in paediatric and fetal cardiology at Evelina London, said: “George is a wonderful little man and his family work together with the whole Evelina London team to deliver the holistic care needed for a growing child. We are so grateful that families go above and beyond to support us.”