Christmas Appeal 2025
Help little hearts this Christmas
This Christmas, Children’s Heartbeat Trust are calling on your support to help local children living with congenital heart disease and their families.
Through our annual Christmas Appeal, we invite you to make a difference and help little hearts across Northern Ireland. Whether it’s through a heartfelt donation or getting involved in some festive fundraising, your support ensures we can continue providing vital emotional and practical care to little hearts during the most challenging times.
Your donation and fundraising will help little hearts like Annie’s.
Little Annie McIlrath from Kilrea was diagnosed antenatally with a complex heart condition, called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome where the left side of her heart hadn’t developed properly.
To date Annie has had two open heart surgeries. Her first at just six days old and a second at almost eight months. Between her surgeries Annie remained a long-term patient in hospital for seven long months and spent her first Christmas in hospital. Throughout her incredible journey, she and her family were supported by Children’s Heartbeat Trust.
Ways You Can Help This Christmas:
Donate directly to our appeal HERE, . You can donate in lieu of Christmas cards or gifts to make a meaningful impact.
Host a Jolly Jumper Day with your friends, colleagues or community group. Do your bit in a festive knit. SIGN UP TODAY
Organise your own festive fundraiser. Perhaps you have your own unique idea. From Festive Fayres, to Reindeer Food and Carol Singing the ideas are endless. We would love to support you. Register your fundraiser HERE.
Share our Christmas Appeal on social media to spread the word and encourage others to get involved.
During November and December, we’ll provide 144 support visits to families like Annie’s in hospital offering crucial support and reassurance that they are not alone.
Your festive fundraising efforts will raise much needed funds to help us continue our vital services for local children like Annie.
How you can get involved this Christmas
Host your own Festive Fundraiser
Hosting your own festive fundraiser is a fun and meaningful way to support Children’s Heartbeat Trust this Christmas. Whether it’s your first time planning an event or you’re a seasoned fundraiser, we’re here to help make sure your festive activity is safe, successful, and full of Christmas Cheer!
If you already have a festive fundraiser idea be sure to register it with us HERE and we can provide you with your fundraising pack and all the resources you need to make it a jolly success this Christmas.
Alternatively, get in touch via the contact form below and we can provide you with ideas, inspiration and guidance.
From Jolly Jumper Days to Christmas Crafts and Reindeer Food. Every donation and fundraising event is greatly appreciated and will help us continue our vital support for local children with heart disease.
Do your bit in a Festive Knit!
Get into the festive spirit and support little hearts this Christmas by hosting a Jolly Jumper Day for Children’s Heartbeat Trust!
Whether at your school, community group, workplace, or with simply with friends or family, pop on your best (or worst) festive Christmas jumper and make a donation to help local children living with congenital heart disease.
It’s a fun and easy way to spread Christmas cheer while raising vital funds for heart families across Northern Ireland. From sparkly sweaters to novelty knits, every jumper worn helps us continue providing essential support when it’s needed most.
Sign up for your Jolly Jumper Event HERE today and we will be in touch with your festive fundraising pack!
Donate in Lieu of Cards or Gifts
This Christmas, instead of struggling to find the perfect gift for teachers, neighbours, Secret Santa’s, or loved ones, why not give a gift that makes a difference?
By donating to our Christmas Appeal in lieu of traditional presents or cards, you’ll be helping to support little hearts across Northern Ireland like Annie, who spent her first Christmas in hospital.
Your thoughtful donation will bring support and care to children living with congenital heart disease and their families during the festive season.
A simple donation of £20 can help us provide gifts and presents for families in hospital this Christmas.
Receive a Heartfelt E-Card
When you donate through our website, you can choose to receive a festive e-card as a special way to mark your gift.
Just let us know when making your donation that you’d like an e-card (by ticking the box) and we can email this across to you on receipt of your donation for your to share with your loved ones.
Click HERE to donate today.
Thank you for helping little hearts this Christmas.
Contact us
We are so touched to have the support of everyone who chooses to fundraise in aid of Children’s Heartbeat Trust and in the same way we support our families, every step of the way, we will be with you to help make the most of your fundraising efforts.
We can provide professional guidance to ensure your fundraising is safe and legal and that you have the right fundraising resources and branded materials you need.
Please get in touch with us via the form below and we will be in touch as soon as possible to support you.
How your money helps
As a local charity, we rely on voluntary donations to support families in Northern Ireland affected by congenital heart disease (CHD), from diagnosis to recovery and beyond. CHD affects around 200 babies annually, and your generosity funds vital services that make a real difference in their lives.
could facilitate a two hour ‘Play & Prepare’ session, by our trained Family Support Workers to help a child prepare for heart surgery, in hospital or in the comfort of their own home.
could help fund local family support events across Northern Ireland, bringing families together for peer support.
could support ten families with financial assistance when travelling outside of NI for their child’s life saving heart surgery.