A Rainworth family are continuing their work to say thank you to a hospital that saved their son’s life – and raise awareness of a condition that claims the lives of many children every year.

Ben Wain required open heart surgery at just three weeks-old after he was born with a serious congenital heart defect (CHD) – TGA, meaning the two main blood vessels leaving his heart were in abnormal positions.

His mum, Cheryl Hibbard, is on a mission to raise awareness of CHD and “what the killer disease really means for families like us.”

Cheryl explained: “CHD isn’t cured after having open heart surgery, sadly it’s for life. There is no cure.”

My mission until the day I die, being mum to a very, very special little heart boy, is to make sure the world knows exactly what CHD is and what it means for affected families.”

Ben, who is now aged 12, was treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and as a thank you Ben, Cheryl, and his dad, Joe Wain, hold twice-yearly fundraising events at Hucknall Town FC to raise money for the hospital’s charity.

The latest event is on Sunday, 21st May, from 10am, when the football club’s RM Stadium on Aerial Way will host a Craft Fair and a Pond, Tropical Fish and Aquatics Auction to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

There will also be a tombola, bouncy castle, refreshments throughout the day.

The auction will start at 11am and admission is £1, with under-14s free. It will include Koi carp, goldfish and other cold water livestocks, rare and exotic tropical fish and equipment, live plants and decorations for ponds and aquariums, new and used fish tanks, and pond and aquarium equipment.

There will also be trade stalls selling fish food and equipment and discounted prices.