Sunderland woman who was UK's first ever heart transplant baby raises hundreds for charity with funky face masks venture

A Sunderland woman who was the UK’s first ever heart transplant baby and her mum have raised over £1,500 for good causes with a face mask venture they launched during lockdown.
Kaylee Davidson-Olley and her Mum CarolKaylee Davidson-Olley and her Mum Carol
Kaylee Davidson-Olley and her Mum Carol

Kaylee-Davidson Olley, 33 was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy ,causing severe breathing problems as a baby and at just five months old underwent a life saving heart transplant operation, becoming Britain's youngest surviving transplant patient, in October 1987.

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After months of making and selling masks, Kaylee and Carol have made £1545, donating £1200 of it to the Children’s Heart Unit Fund at the Freeman Hospital, the ward which saved Kaylee’s life as a baby and £345 to the Charlie and Carter Foundation, a South Shields based charity who provide financial support for parents of seriously ill children.

Kaylee Davidson-Olley and her Mum CarolKaylee Davidson-Olley and her Mum Carol
Kaylee Davidson-Olley and her Mum Carol

Speaking about the donations, Kaylee said: “I’m really proud of what we’ve done. This is something that was just going to be a small project and we’re really happy with how it turned out and the response we’ve received.

“The two charities are really happy and over the moon with what we’ve managed to raise for them. Any difference we can make is huge. I’ve found lockdown very difficult at times but the masks and sewing keep me occupied most days.”

Kaylee and Carol plan on continuing making the masks and raising even more money for charity and have been blown away by the response so far.

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Carol added: “I am so proud of Kaylee as she really wanted to make a difference whilst being in lockdown and she has worked so hard on Funky Masks to raise funds for CHUF and CFF.

“We are continuing to support these charities and have plenty of Funky Masks left to sell and plan to keep making more.”

Anyone who wishes to order a mask can do so via Kaylee and Carol’s Facebook page.

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