Heart Children Ireland's fundraising initiative hits Athlone

Heart Children Ireland, a voluntary support group for those affected by congenital heart defects, has officially launched their annual fundraising initiative with the help of their charity ambassador RTÉ's Miriam O'Callaghan and four year old Eva Vidal. Heart Children Ireland is a voluntary non-government funded organisation that provides a support mechanism for those affected by or living with congenital heart defects. To raise much needed funds, Heart Children Ireland's signature red windmills will be on sale priced at €2 on Friday and Saturday, February 8 and 9 next, and Friday and Saturday, February 15 and 16 in shopping centres in Athlone. The organisation is hoping to raise €40,000 from the initiative and all money raised will go towards buying portable Oxygen Saturation Monitors and providing support services to families living with a congenital heart condition. A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and blood vessels which is present at birth. The condition accounts for the largest number of birth defects in Ireland, accounting for 1% of all live births per year. With improvements in surgery and intervention techniques, 95% of these children survive into adulthood. For further information on Heart Children Ireland, log on to www.heartchildren.ie