'You never expect something like this to happen to your child'

A caring Warsop father whose daughter was born with congenital heart defects has taken to the swimming pool as part of a monster fundraiser aimed at increase awareness of the illness.

Determined Callum Young will swim a whopping 100km at the Warsop Health Hub over 100 cumulative hours in November to raise vital cash for children's heart charity Tiny Tickers.

The former Meden School pupil, who now works as a clinical support worker in the emergency department at Kings Mill Hospital, took the decision after his baby daughter Winnie was diagnosed with several congenital heart defects shortly after her birth.

“When Winnie was diagnosed our world changed quite suddenly,” explains Callum.

“You never in a million years expect something like this to happen to your child, and you have to very quickly adapt to a completely different trajectory than you once had planned out. The worry and dread is unimaginable.

“As a dad, I think you naturally try to fix everything and take away the difficulties your children may face. Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where I found myself completely powerless and actually quite helpless.

“I can't fix Winnie's heart myself, but I want to try and do something positive that will help Winnie.

“That's where the swimming challenge came from. I wanted to take something that has been incredibly difficult for our family and use it to help raise money for a charity that supports families going through similar experiences.”

Shortly after her birth Winnie was found to have a ventricular septal defect (VSD), an atrial septal defect (ASD) and narrowing of the branches of her pulmonary artery, conditions which affect the structure and function of her heart.

“Winnie is still so tiny, and she's already had to undergo more investigations and hospital attendances than any baby should ever have to experience,” said Callum.

“She's doing brilliantly, and we're incredibly proud of her. But having a baby with a heart condition does bring a level of uncertainty that is difficult to explain.

“For me, one of the most difficult things is that we can be sitting there looking at our beautiful baby, who looks perfectly well, while knowing there's something going on that needs monitoring and medical attention. Winnie is the most perfect little girl, she's very strong and she's got this.”

Since beginning his daunting challenge Callum, who lives with his partner Kirsty, has so far raised more than £1,800 after friends and well-wishers rallied round.

The Tiny Tickers charity provides specialist training to NHS sonographers to help improve the detection of heart defects during routine pregnancy scans.

It also places pulse oximetry equipment in maternity units to help identify babies who may have an undiagnosed heart condition after birth.

And for Callum, who is currently studying a degree in paramedic science at Sheffield Hallam University, the charity’s mission is one that has taken on a deeply personal meaning.

“The work they do is absolutely incredible and they've been so supportive to our family as a whole and to me personally with my fundraising journey,” says Callum.

“One of the statistics that really stood out to me was that around 100 babies are born with a potentially life-threatening heart condition every week in the UK. That's approximately 100 families every single week suddenly facing something they may never have anticipated.

“Until it happens to you, you don't necessarily appreciate just how many families are affected. I certainly didn't. I want to help Tiny Tickers continue the incredible work they do, supporting families and helping improve the early detection of congenital heart defects.

“It's a pretty daunting challenge, particularly alongside family life, work and my commitments as a student paramedic, but every kilometre represents an opportunity to raise more money, get people talking about congenital heart disease and hopefully make a difference to another family.

“I'm definitely not a professional swimmer and I'm not going to break any records but this is about doing something challenging for a cause that is now incredibly close to my heart.

“The support we've received so far has been genuinely overwhelming. I never expected the fundraising to reach the levels it has, and every donation, share and message means the world to us.

“If our story encourages even one person to learn more about congenital heart disease, or helps another family access support through Tiny Tickers, then it will have been worthwhile.”

You can support Callum by visiting his Just Giving page.