Kind hearted pub regulars have been raising cash for a toddler born with a hole in her ticker.

And the help has been welcomed by her family.

The Silent Woman, Slaithwaite, held a fun day to raise cash for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

The fundraiser was inspired by two-year-old Miley-Grace Howatson, who was born with a hole in her heart and a leaking heart valve.

Miley-Grace will undergo open heart surgery at the unit in the Autumn. it will see surgeons plugging the gap with another piece of her heart.

Beth Valvona (front) and her daughter, Miley-Grace Howatson, a heart patient at Leeds hospital are joined by Childrens Heart Surgery Fund mascot, Katie Bear with Gerry Robertson (left), Rebecca Wilkinson and Nicole Brewer (right) of The Silent Woman
Beth Valvona (front) and her daughter, Miley-Grace Howatson, a heart patient at Leeds hospital are joined by Childrens Heart Surgery Fund mascot, Katie Bear with Gerry Robertson (left), Rebecca Wilkinson and Nicole Brewer (right) of The Silent Woman

While Miley-Grace can take part in the usual activities that toddlers enjoy, her condition can slow her down.

Her mum Beth Valvona, 22, and Miley-Grace’s dad, Tom Howatson, 21, learned about the youngster’s condition when she was three months old.

The mum-of-two said: “She’s alright. She plays like other children but she gets tired more.

“It was very difficult when we found out that she had a hole in her heart.

“LGI is absolutely fantastic – I couldn’t ask for better staff to take care of her.

“It’s been fantastic to have the fundraiser at the Silent Woman – the ladies here are absolutely brilliant.”

Charity fundraiser at The Silent Woman

The event, which included live music, glitter tattoos, face painting, a raffle and a bouncy castle, was organised by Beth together with Silent Woman staff Nicole Brewer and Gerry Robinson.

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund raises money for equipment, staff posts, resources and training for those who work on the heart wards at LGI.

The charity also supports patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and their families.

Twelve babies are born with CHD every day in the UK.

Around 400 babies and children from Yorkshire, Humber and North Lincolnshire have open heart surgery each year.

Some 10,000 babies and children use the heart unit at LGI each year.

Today, 80% of babies born with CHD now survive to adulthood – thanks to improving treatment and surgery.

For more about the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund visit: http://chsf.org.uk .