A kind-hearted couple whose son received heart surgery at our hospital will be conquering the Great Birmingham 10k this April to say thank you for our life-saving care.

Born prematurely at 31 weeks, one of Neil and Kezia Curtis’ twins, Harry, was diagnosed at 12-weeks-old with Atrial Septal Defect and Ventricular Septal Defect – which meant he had two holes in his heart.

To get him fit and healthy again, just like his identical brother Jack, Harry had open heart surgery shortly after his diagnosis, to close up the holes in his heart.

Now 15-months-old and making incredible progress, his Rugeley parents can’t wait to don their running gear on Sunday 30 April and pace for pounds in aid of our Cardiac Unit. Inexperienced runner, 36-year-old Neil, said:

Both myself and Kezia aren’t really runners, but we thought the Great Birmingham 10k would be a great way to help raise some funds for a fantastic hospital, which has done so much for us.

Harry’s surgery has made a phenomenal difference and we can’t thank the children’s hospital enough for making our son’s life amazing. His health has improved dramatically, he’s happy all the time and he’s nearly even caught up in size with his brother and best friend, Jack

Anyone 15-years-old and over can join our charity’s dynamic duo and take part in this iconic event, which takes in some of Birmingham’s most notorious sites.

Annie Eytle, Acting Events and Regional Fundraising Manager at our charity, added:

We’re truly thankful to Neil and Kezia for deciding to fundraise with their feet and say thank you to our amazing doctors and nurses in this unique way.

The Great Birmingham Run is always one of our favourite events, as we witness a sea of red take over the streets of Birmingham. On the day, we’ll be cheering on Neil, Kezia and our other incredible supporters, so make sure you sign up to support us too!

The Great Birmingham Run Series is one of our biggest annual fundraisers and so far, over 300 participants have joined the 10k. To get involved.