A WOMAN from Cowling organised a black-tie ball in Skipton to thank a charity which has helped a brave four-year-old girl to have heart surgery.

Samantha McNally organised the event - at the Rendezvous Hotel and attended by around 100 guests - to raise cash for the Leeds-based Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

Isabella, the daughter of Samantha’s best friend Rebecca Rodgers, has half a working heart, and had her first open-heart operation at five days old.

She still receives treatment at the Paediatric Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, which benefits from the charity.

A total of around £2,500 has so far been raised from the event itself, which included raffles, games, and silent auctions, and associated fundraising, with more to come.

Rebecca, of Keighley, explained that her daughter had no right ventricle, the part of the heart that pumps blood to her lungs.

She said: “Isabella’s first open heart surgery was when she was just five days old.

“She has had multiple open-heart surgeries and heart-related procedures in her little life and is due her biggest open heart surgery to date within the next year.

“Isabella has been on the receiving end of the amazing care on ward 51 using equipment and staying in accommodation funded by Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

“Isabella’s life-prolonging heart surgery has allowed everyone who loves her time to make so many memories with her. Our way of saying ‘thank you’ is through raising money for the fund.”

Rebecca added that the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund supported the work of health professionals.

Based at the Leeds Children’s Hospital, the Fund covers Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Around 450 babies, children and adults in the region need open heart surgery every year.

Rebecca added: “It funds vitally-important research and cutting-edge equipment, provides on-site accommodation for families to keep parents near their desperately poorly children, and supplies resources for making a children’s ward child-friendly.”

The ball was supported by companies McNally EV, McNally Mechanical, GB Sofa Co, Bronte Properties and Windle and Bowker, all from the Skipton and Keighley area.

In 2017 Rebecca teamed up with three other mothers to raise £2,000 for the fund with a family fun day in Denholme.

And last week legendary Yorkshire cricket umpire Dickie Bird made a donation of £20,000 to the Heart Surgery Fund.

He said: “I can’t think of a better use of my money than helping babies and children in my home county.

“I’m humbled to meet youngsters and their families facing the huge battles ahead with smiles on their faces.”