News and Stories

David Tooke is a member of the Zheng Dao Lo Academy, a martial arts academy in Chichester that raised an incredible £1,658 for Heartbeat over summer 2026. He’s also someone we’ve had the privilege to get to know very well, as we support him and his family closely through his daughter’s heart treatment. David’s daughter, Rheya, was born with a complicated heart condition. At just 10 days old, she received lifesaving surgery at the University Hospital Southampton, and since the

One of the most significant developments within the service this year has been the introduction of our monthly Cardiac Information Session, created specifically to support patients who have recently been diagnosed with heart failure. Receiving a heart failure diagnosis can be an overwhelming and uncertain time, and these sessions aim to provide patients with the knowledge, reassurance, and support they need during the early stages of their journey. Held once a month, the sess

Young people living with heart conditions have enjoyed a weekend of adventure, friendship and new experiences at Calshot Activity Centre, supported by Southampton-based cardiac charity Heartbeat. The residential brought together young people aged 15 to 24 from across the region, giving them the opportunity to meet others who understand the challenges of living with a heart condition, build confidence and enjoy a break from the demands of everyday life. Organised by the cardia

An evening celebrating some of musical theatre’s best-loved songs has brought audiences together in support of Hampshire cardiac charity Heartbeat, raising just shy of £400. The annual Heart & Music fundraiser returned to The Point Theatre in Eastleigh, treating audiences to a spectacular celebration of the music of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber while supporting Heartbeat’s work with people living with congenital and cardiovascular disease. The programme featured songs from some of

The Rotary Club of Alderney has been raising vital funds for cardiac charity Heartbeat which supports cardiac patients and their families when they need it most. The Rotary Club of Alderney (established 1979) plays a big part in community and fundraising projects, has organised several fundraisers in aid of Heartbeat, including its annual Valentine’s Dinner at French restaurant Le Pesked. The event attracted more than 50 attendees and raised £1,000 through ticket sales and a

A Southampton-based charity golf day has raised £15,200 before costs to help fund the renovation of the charity’s much-loved Rotary Heartbeat House for cardiac patients and their families in the community. Heartbeat’s golf day at Stoneham Golf Club, proudly supported by VFS Scattolini as headline sponsor along with Clarke Willmott as Nearest the Pin sponsor, brought together supporters, local companies and keen golfers for an exciting day of friendly competition, networking a

A Southampton cardiac charity has received a generous £1,000 donation from the team at John Lewis, helping to support its work with cardiac patients and their families across the region. Heartbeat, which supports cardiac care and patients at University Hospital Southampton, has received the generous donation from the John Lewis team, with the money set to go towards cutting medical equipment not currently available within the NHS. The latest donation, which was raised by th

Bella Brittan was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, but she has never let this define or limit her ambitions. When she tackled a 30-mile ‘bike hike’ to fundraise for our work at Heartbeat, her determination and positivity shone through. We feel incredibly lucky to know Bella and her family – here’s their story. ------ Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare congenital condition caused by four structural abnormalities within the heart. Those diagnosed with it, like Bella, live with four co

Major refurbishment works have begun at a Southampton cardiac charity’s biggest asset, Rotary Heartbeat House, to create more accessible accommodation and communal space for families of cardiac patients. Rotary Heartbeat House is the home-from-home facility funded by cardiac charity Heartbeat located just three minutes from the University Hospital Southampton, providing vital accommodation for a small one off payment to cardiac patients and their families. Renovations officia

Southampton-based cardiac charity Heartbeat has raised an outstanding £15,000 before costs from its annual Golf Day fundraiser, held at the picturesque South Winchester Golf Club. The hugely successful event, proudly headline sponsored by Pangea Insurance, brought together supporters, local businesses and golf enthusiasts for a memorable day of competition, networking and fundraising on Wednesday 12 August. Pangea Insurance's generous support played a pivotal role in the succ

Southampton-based cardiac charity Heartbeat is delighted to welcome Eliza O’Reilly as its new Head of Fundraising. Bringing both professional expertise and a deeply personal connection to the charity, Eliza joins the team with a passion for helping Heartbeat continue its life-changing support for heart patients and their families. Bringing with her more than 17 years of charity sector experience Eliza has worked with a range of charities, including Young Lives vs Cancer, Help

A Dorset teenager who raised more than £6,000 for cardiac charity Heartbeat has been celebrated within her community for her incredible fundraising efforts after being named one of Christchurch Carnival’s 2026 Carnival Stars. Bella Brittan from Christchurch was recognised for her determination to give back to the charity which supported her after she underwent open heart surgery as a baby. Earlier this year, Bella took on an incredible challenge to raise money for Heartbeat,

An annual fundraising event organised by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure has raised £850 for Heartbeat, a Southampton-based cardiac charity. This latest fundraiser brings Morgan Sindall’s total donation to Heartbeat of £3,420 over two years, with two charity bike rides and a contribution towards Heartbeat’s annual walking fundraiser, Heart and Stroll. This year’s challenge saw the Morgan Sindall team take on both a cycle ride and a newly introduced hiking route,

Arthur and mum, Julia A printed 3D heart replica can influence and enhance patient care for the better. It allows surgeons to not only meticulously plan complex heart surgeries, but to do so based on each patient’s unique condition and circumstances. We were recently privileged to hear Julia speak honestly about what this remarkable model meant for her son, Arthur. Nothing demonstrates the restorative impact of such vital work more powerfully than hearing from someone it di

This August, our wonderful Cardiac Youth Workers, Becky and Kim, organised a truly memorable day at the beach for our young cardiac patients and their families. It was a day filled with sunshine, laughter, friendship, and the opportunity to create lasting memories together by the sea. The event was made even more special thanks to the incredible generosity of the Brittan family, who kindly lent us their beach hut for the day. The beach hut provided the perfect base for famili

Southampton-based cardiac charity Heartbeat has renewed its funding for a series of animated videos that help cardiac patients better understand the treatment they will receive before arriving at hospital. The “Explain My Procedure” video library was designed by medically trained experts and allows patients and their loved ones to revisit the information as often as needed before treatment. They are also available in Polish, helping to make the resources accessible to a wider

A Southampton-based charity has raised more than £4,500 in an all-day golf challenge. Cardiac charity Heartbeat received an incredible £4656.63 to help fund the renovation works at Heartbeat House – a home-from-home facility for the families of patients being treated at University Hospital Southampton. The money was raised during a mammoth golf-athon, which saw former Premier League striker James Beattie and former Soccer AM presenter Peter ‘Tubes’ take on 18 holes at 18 diff

Local cardiac charity, Heartbeat, is expanding its support for heart patients across the region by funding a new specialist role at the University Hospital Southampton. Rebecca Budge has joined the team as a Heart Failure Psychological Therapist, supporting cardiac patients aged 25 and over who are undergoing treatment in hospital. She will provide dedicated psychological care from the point of diagnosis, throughout each patient’s medical journey. The newly funded role aims t

A Hampshire mother-and-daughter duo have completed a four‑day adventure across Europe while raising money for Southampton‑based cardiac charity Heartbeat. Teresa and Adrienne took part in Monte Carlo or Bust Black Forest Gateau ‘banger’ Rally in a 2003 Fiat Punto – a car they bought for just £200 and decorated with hearts to highlight their Heartbeat fundraising mission. The rally, which began in Namur, Belgium and finished in Monte Carlo isn’t about speed. Instead, it’s a fu