This past year has been an extremely difficult time for families across the UK, and those living with and supporting a child or family member with congenital heart disease have dealt with extra anxiety, isolation and challenges. 

February is National Heart Month and 7 - 14 February is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week - will you help ECHO to raise vital awareness of congenital heart disease and fundraise to ensure we can support every family who needs us? 

During Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week, we invite you to join with us and the rest of the ECHO heart community by wearing red, raising awareness and creating your own fun Heart Month online fundraiser!

Why not set yourself a heart-related challenge and invite friends and family to donate? You could: 

• Bake heart shaped cookies
• Wear red for the whole week week and post a photo on social media
• Host a section of your work Zoom meeting about Heart Month and invite colleagues to wear red and donate
• Go for a run or walk every day during the week and wear red while you sprint or saunter

Creating a Facebook or JustGiving Fundraiser is a great way to tell your story of why you are fundraising, and share with family, friends and collegues. As long as what you choose to do follows COVID-19 regulations, you ar good to go!

We've got a template letter you can use to get in touch with your child's school, asking them to take part in National Heart Month.

Why we need you this National Heart Month

"I can't tell you how much easier you have made this process for me and my partner and our baby" - ECHO member, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have heard from heart families at every stage of their journey - including those whose heart baby was born during the pandemic, those staying in hospital during this time, and those who have been self-isolating at home.

Our team have provided emotional and practical support to parents and carers by telephone and email, sent ECHO Cares packages into hospital, and provided distraction and fun with the ECHO Happiness Hub livestreams and workshops.

We can’t continue our support without you – as an independent charity, we rely on your kind donations in order to be there for heart families at times when they most need support. Let's raise awareness and donations for ECHO heart families this Heart Month!

We're here to help, so if you have any questions please do get in touch.