Bromsgrovian Clint to run 10k for childrens heart charity

Buy photos » Clint will be running the British 10K on Sunday (July 8). s

A BROMSGROVE man will be running the British 10K on Sunday (June 8) to raise funds for the Children's Heart Federation (CHF) - a charity which supports children with heart conditions.

Clint Eastwood chose the cause as it helped his own son Sam.

Sam was born in 2008 with a co-arctation of his aorta - the condition was diagnosed when the youngster was just 20 hours old and his parents were told shortly after that he would need surgery.

Clint said: "Leaving your baby on an operating table to have heart surgery is the most frightening thing we've ever been through and can't be understood unless you've been there.

"Throughout this awful period, the Children’s Heart Federation was there for support and advice.

"I’m running the British 10k to support CHF, to raise awareness of heart conditions in children and the important work they do in supporting families like ours."

He added CHF provided great support to so many parents across the UK and a number here, which was why he was so passionate about the cause and wanted to raise as much money as he could to help its work.

"They helped us meet other heart families allowing us to talk with other parents who have felt that terror, which helped us to deal with problems that were to come.

"Their events also allow Sam to meet other heart children," he said.

Around 1 in every 133 children born in the UK have a heart problem, meaning it happens to around 5,000-a-year.

CHF provides help and support for children and their parents, along with travel and accommodation for those who have children ill in hospital.

It also provides vital medical equipment to enable the youngsters to lead more independent lives and reduce the amount of trips they have to make to hospital.

Rebecca Holt, family support officer for CHF, said the charity wanted to say a big thank you for raising funds and awareness of the charity and that all the cash raised would go directly towards the work in supporting thousands of families across the UK whose children had congenital heart problems.

For more or to donate, visit http://www.justgiving.com/clint-eastwood0

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