Chanel's Christmas starts early with surprise gift from Sunderland charity

The six-year-old from Seaham, the world's youngest heart surgery patient, wanted a bicycle so she could join her brothers and friends as they played outside.

But a series of major health conditions, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy, meant she was forced to watch from the sidelines.

Her rare heart condition was diagnosed before she was born and she was given just a 5% chance of survival at birth.

Despite defying the odds, it means simple pleasures, such as a bike ride, were beyond reach.

Now the Red Sky Foundation has presented her with her first set of wheels.

Launched in 2016 by Sergio Petrucci and his wife Emma, the Red Sky Foundation was intended to be a one-off fundraising event to thank the Freeman Hospital unit, which saved their daughter Luna’s life.

It has since raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for equipment, including an organ care transplant system for the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman and heart echo scanners for Sunderland Royal and James Cook Hospital in Teesside.

“When I discovered there were special bikes that could be customised to Chanel’s exact requirements, I knew we had to try and help,” said Sergio.

"Normally we fundraise for medical equipment but this touched our hearts.

"Chanel is a little fighter and we are delighted to have made this Christmas particularly special for her.”

The £1,220 sky blue Theraplay Terrier Trike, bought with cash raised through virtual events during lockdown, has a frame-folding mechanism so it can be loaded into a car.

Fay, who is also mum to Chase and Cole and is married to Micheal, said she had been asking for a bike for years, but had no idea how to get a custom made one.

She added: “We are incredibly grateful to all at Red Sky Foundation and those special individuals that helped make it happen for her.

“To see her on it and having fun like other children is amazing but also to see how proud she is of herself and the confidence boost it has given her is priceless.”

For more visit www.redskyfoundation.com, while Chanel’s journey can be followed through the Facebook page Chanel Murrish HLHS.

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