Meet The Team
Claire Donnelly—Chair of Trustees
Hi, I’m Claire, married to Antony, with 3 beautiful boys. Alfie, our youngest was born in 2012 following IVF treatment. At four days old he became poorly and we were blue lighted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and so our CHD journey began. Alfie was born with a complex and unique heart condition. He has had three open heart surgeries so far, at one week old, 7 months old and 22 months old, he will need further surgery in the near future.
I first got involved with Young at Heart in 2014 and soon after became a Trustee. I have loved being a part of the charity and feel honoured to have now been elected as Chairperson. I am dedicated and passionate to make Young at Heart a huge success, and help it grow from strength to strength, so we can support more heart families.
Emma Byrne—Treasurer
Emma_youngatheart@yahoo.com
Hi my name is Emma and I am the new Treasurer for Young at Heart after being a Trustee for the charity for the last 3 years. Our daughter Niamh was diagnosed with Transposition of the Greater Arteries after birth. She had her first surgery at 1 day old and then had Arterial Switch operation at 4 days old. Niamh is our 4th child and our only child to have been born with a heart defect so this came as a great shock to us. Whilst at Birmingham Children’s Hospital we were passed on the details for Young at Heart and from that day they have been a great support to Niamh. I'm looking forward to working with the new team and continuing the amazing work of our predecessors
Claire Webster—Trustee
Clairew_youngatheart@yahoo.com
My name is Claire Webster, I am married to Mark and we have one child, Thomas. Thomas was born eight weeks premature in July 2008 and at just three days old, we were given the devastating news that he had been born with a heart condition, Coarctation of the Aorta. Thomas was then transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where he was operated on at just four days old. Over the course of the next nine months Thomas had three further operations, the last one being open heart surgery.
Kim Bruton - Trustee
Kimbruton_youngatheart@yahoo.com
Hi, My name is Kim and I am married to Danny, we have three children our youngest son Oliver was born prematurely at 30 weeks with double outlet right ventricle, Melrose stenosis and pulmonary stenosis Oliver was given a very slim chance of a successful operation but he got through and it was a very difficult first year of his life.He has had three open heart surgeries and three catheter interventions.
Young at Heart is vital to all family members as are the siblings who are also part of the heart warriors journey.
Together as a charity we can support each through all up’s and down’s and make friends along the way
Toni Holmes – Trustee
Tonih_youngatheart@yahoo.com
Hi, I’m Toni and I live in West Bromwich with my husband Pete, little boy Che and our dog Jackson. In September 2019, our little one arrived into the world. It turned out, that he had been keeping a few secrets from us including, a complete AVSD. He had his repair surgery at 3 months old. He now still has a small hole and leaking valves which he takes medication for.
In my spare time, (although I don’t have much of that with a toddler) I enjoy spending time with my family. We enjoy long walks with the dog, days out at attractions and generally giving Che as many experiences as we can. We are country music fans so love attending country gigs when we can. We also take jive classes. We are board game geeks and have regular games nights with friends.
Supporting Che through his heart surgery was one of the hardest times of my life! We almost lost him. What got me through was the support of others who had travelled in my path and charities like Young at Heart. I hope that one day I can be that support for someone and give something back to those supporting us! I am honoured to be a friend of ‘Young at Heart’.
April Obinna - Trustee
Aprilwarwick_youngatheart@yahoo.com
I am April and I am a single mom to 3 girls. My middle daughter, Lily was born with CHD, but despite many symptoms wasn't diagnosed until she was nearly 2 and a half and already in heart failure. We found Young at Heart about a year after and I realised how much support we had missed out on. This made me realise how much I'd love to help Young at Heart to ensure that no family has to go through this experience alone like we did.
Ben Brown - Trustee
benbrown_youngatheart@yahoo.com
Hi I’m Ben Brown I’m married to Hollie and I have three daughters Maisie, Heidi, and Poppy.
Poppy, my youngest daughter was born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome and other complex heart defects
She has undergone 2 open heart surgeries and a cardiac catheter and stent fitted so far at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and she is also fed via a feeding peg and has had another operation related to that
I am delighted to be able to be part of such an amazing charity that has done so much not only for us as a family but also the help and support it gives to all the other families this amazing charity supports
Young at heart has already given me some amazing opportunities to help and support other families and I’m excited to be able to help more with the charity into the future
Paul Welch - Trustee
Paulwelch_youngatheart@yahoo.com
Hi, I’m Paul I live in Stoke – on – Trent with my wife Claire and 2 children Abbigail and Jack.
Abbigail was born in 2008 with Hypoplastic Left heart syndrome, she had her 1st open heart surgery at just 5 days old and more recently had her 4th open heart surgery an Aortic valve and route replacement at 13 years old. Treatment is ongoing and the future is unknown.
Me and Claire joined the charity as members in 2014 and have enjoyed attending the Christmas parties and events every year since.
We love being part of this amazing Charity who have helped us so much over the years both emotionally and physically by providing us with an INR machine as well as helping us to make essential memories with our extended heart family.
In 2022 we became Friends of young at heart and more recently I have been appointed Trustee, It makes me proud to be part of such an amazing charity and I’m looking forward to working with the team and supporting our growing membership in any way I can.
Sasha Rooprai—Friend of Young at Heart
I am the proud heart mummy to our little one with heart condition called ‘Complete Heart Block stage 3’ who is full of daily hope and we seemed to have strength from being stronger together and as our heart child’s parents we endeavour to raise awareness and understanding of heart children. They teach us so, SO much about life. I am grateful and humbled to be given this opportunity from Young at Heart Charity, I am fluent English and Punjabi speaker to support families as and when needed
Jamie Lee Curtis—Friend of Young at Heart
My name is Jamie and I’m the mummy of Myla age 5 who has Double Inlet Left Ventricle, Transposition of the Great Arteries and severe Pulmonary and Sub Pulmonary Stenosis, this year Myla had a catheter and we thought it would be just routine before having the Fontan, but unfortunately Mylas lung pressures were to high, so Myla needed intervention and another catheter . This turned into a 3 week hospital stay with Endocarditis.
Hollie Brown - Friend of Young at Heart
Hi my names Hollie I’m married to Ben and mum to three daughters Maisie, Heidi and poppy
Our Heart warrior Poppy was diagnosed with HRHS and other Heart defects after my 20 week scan, once she was born via Planned C section we spent 2 days in Coventry NICU before being transferred to Birmingham children’s hospital where poppy then had her first open heart surgery at 3 Days old, she then had a Cardiac Catheter at 5 weeks old and a stent fitted, she then her Glenn Surgery at 4 months old. And we are now awaiting her pre Fontan Cath and Fontan surgery in the near future
I love being involved with young at heart and attending the many amazing events and days out it provides for all of the families it supports.
It’s so important that our children get to mix with other heart families and helps our older children to understand a little more about other children with special hearts. Both us and the girls have made friends for life and I can’t wait to be able to help out in the future with supporting new families and existing ones at all the amazing events and fundraising that Young at Heart does.
Claire Welch - Friends of Young at Heart
Hi, I’m Claire from Stoke – on – Trent, I joined the charity back in 2014 along with my husband. Since then, we have enjoyed so many amazing days out and opportunities with the charity plus had so much support from the trustees and the other families that are members.
Our daughter started the DofE awards last year with the charity, she has grown in confidence since and I am so grateful for her to have that opportunity, she has just started her silver award.
Abbigail was born with HLHS and has had 4 open heart surgeries as well as many other procedures since being born in 2008. Abbigail has a 12-year-old brother who has also benefited massively from being a part of the charity, people sometimes forget what a massive impact these conditions have on all of the family, but Young at Heart appreciate how tough it is and take all the family into account when planning events etc. Without this charity we would not have gotten through some really hard times, and I am honoured to be a friend of Young at Heart and help families like ours.
Kayleigh Roberts - Friend of Young at Heart
My name is Kayleigh I am a mom to 4 children Zoe, Jodie, Anthony, Lola-Rose, and the partner to Grant
My youngest Lola-Rose was born with a heart condition called TGA) is a serious, rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed Lola has had 2 surgery's 1 being open heart surgery at Birmingham children's hospital. Lola-rose is waiting to have 1 more surgery at Birmingham children's hospital in 2 years.
I am delighted to be a part of amazing charity that has done so much for us as a family and everything that Young at Heart does for all its families.
It’s so important that our children get to mix with other heart families and helps our older children to understand a little more about other children with special hearts. We and they have made friends for life and we can’t wait to be able to help out in the future with new families and existing ones at all the amazing events and fundraising that Young at Heart does."
Hayley Tohill - Friend of Young at Heart
Hi, I’m Hayley, married to Dan with two beautiful daughters, Macey and Matilda.
Macey was born in 2013 with COA and VSD’s which threw us into the world of CHD which before we had never even heard of. Macey had open heart surgery at 5 days old, then suffered cardiac arrest at 7 days old resulting in emergency open heart surgery at her bed space in PICU.
I have been a member of YAH for some years now and the work they do and support they give us as families is beyond incredible.
I am so honoured to now be a part of such an amazing charity & look forward to being able to support and help others in the way YAH have helped and support us!
Becca Hampson - Young Ambassador
Hi, my name is Becca Hampson and I'm 11 year's old. I was born with a poorly heart and I had open heart surgery at 6 months old and will need more soon to make my heart be even more special to me. The amazing Dr's and nurse's at Birmingham children's hospital look after me so that I can live my life to the max. I'm a young ambassador for Young at Heart which I really love as it means I get to help other poorly babies and children who are heart warriors just like me. My favourite thing's to do are reading David Walliams book's, helping other's especially poorly children feel happy. My favourite sport is swimming especially when I go to Cornwall as I love bodyboarding in the big waves.
Alfie Donnelly - Young Ambassador
Hi, my name is Alfie Donnelly, I'm 11 years old and I have two big brothers called Pierce and Ethan. I have had 4 open heart surgeries so far at Birmingham Children's Hospital and I need more when I get a bit bigger so I need to eat loads to get big and strong. I like to play on my PS5 and watch YouTube my favourite You Tuber is "villa on tour". I am also a big Aston Villa Fan my favourite match was when Villa beat Leicester in the semi finals, but my mommy wouldn't let me run on the pitch with the other fans. I like helping Young at Heart because it's a nice thing to do and I make other children with poorly hearts happy.
Young at Heart ,
Lonsdale House, Suit 305a, 52 Blucher Street, Birmingham, B1 1QU.
Registered charity no.: 512815
Information line: 07874 801 951