Six-year-old Stafford girl raises over £600 as thanks for heart op

Lottie Clarke, from Stafford, challenged herself to cycle six miles over six weeks, just a couple of months after a procedure to repair her heart and treat a condition she’d been living with since birth.  

Lottie was eight-weeks-old when she was diagnosed with Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), which meant there was a hole between the chambers of her heart. Lottie had shown absolutely no symptoms of the condition so her parents, Holly and Tom were in total shock when the diagnosis was made at a routine check-up with Lottie’s GP. 

When Lottie was 12-months-old, she was referred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she attended for regular check-ups to monitor her condition. Doctors saw Lottie was coping well but prepared Holly and Tom that one day, Lottie would need an operation to repair the hole in her heart. 

That day came last May, when Lottie had her first, and hopefully, the only procedure she will need to have to treat her condition. While Lottie was under anaesthetic, surgeons fed a guide through Lottie’s veins through a small incision in her groin and fitted a device into her heart to seal the hole. Over the weeks following the surgery, tissue would grow over the device and it would become a part of her for the rest of her life. The procedure ran like clockwork, and Lottie recovered quickly after, bursting with energy as soon as she was back from recovery. After just two days in hospital, she was allowed home to be with her parents and little brother, Bobby. 

Holly and Tom, were bowled over by the care Lottie received. Holly said: “Everybody was so reassuring. The team were fantastic and explained it all in a way that she would understand. Staff told her stories whilst she was having anesthetic, and she wasn’t scared at all about going into theatre.” 

Unphased by her procedure and inspired by the positive experience she had at the hospital, Lottie wanted to give back to say thank you for ‘fixing her’. Just two months into Lottie’s recovery she completed Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s Summer Fundraising Challenge, getting sponsored to ride six miles over six weeks during the school holidays. 

Lottie’s fundraising didn’t stop there though and she’s gone on to host a Christmas Craft sale at her school, selling baubles, bracelets and cards, and then a cake sale at her mum’s workplace. Lottie’s next quest is on Easter Sunday, where she’ll complete a sponsored four-and-a-half kilometre walk at Tittesworth Reservoir, which should see her fundraising total climb to over £1,000 for the charity. 

Holly added: “We’re so proud of Lottie and how well she’s done with her fundraising and the challenge she completed without so much as a grumble. Lottie is thriving and it’s all thanks to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. We’re so grateful to all the staff who looked after her during her stay.” 

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity said, “We’re so impressed by Lottie’s get up and go attitude to her fundraising, especially getting on her bike so soon after her heart procedure. 

“Lottie’s brilliant fundraising will go towards helping us do more for other brave patients, just like her.” 

If you’ve been inspired and would like to fundraise for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, or donate, please visit bch.org.uk or call 0121 333 8506.