Heroic 12-year-old from Wakefield to walk 300,000 steps with proud dad to raise funds for Children's Heart Surgery Fund

Alfie, age 12, and dad Neil McGuire will be walking 300,000 steps in 30 days to raise funds for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at Leeds General Infirmary.

Alfie was born with congenital heart disease and had his first operation at just seven weeks old, during which he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Neil said: “He has been through a hell of a lot in his 12 years.

"The charity is really close to us all - they were the ones who supported us.”

Alfie was 10-months-old when he was admitted to hospital again, with pneumonia and was in intensive care for weeks.

Shortly after, he had open heart surgery, which took seven hours to replace his mitral valve and is now warfarin dependent.

Alfie experienced open heart surgery a second time at the age of five and will be due to have another in the future to replace the mechanical valve.

He decided to raise vital funds for Children's Heart Surgery Fund alongside his dad after seeing them struggle to raise funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to Alfie becoming breathless and tired easily his dad will be helping complete the challenge.

“He is so enthusiastic about it all and he tries his hardest to do it, it is admirable that he is doing this and trying.” Neil said,

“ We just wanted to help and raise them some money as they are close to our hearts.

“Alfie has got a big heart and he looks after other people and that is what makes me so proud to be his dad.”

Alfie is a student at St Thomas A Becket School and the teachers are all supporting him and have branded him as ‘heroic’.

The family have launched a just giving page welcoming all donations to the charity.

To make a donation visit the page hereA message from the Editor Gavin Murray:

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