A GROUP of parents whose children who have undergone heart surgery at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital raised funds in less than 24 hours to pay for a potentially life saving piece of medical equipment.

Team 1C is made up of parents of youngsters who have had treatment on that ward at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Their fundraising has helped fund a surgeon to attend camps abroad – which saved the lives of more than 100 children.

However, after hearing how the ward needed a vein finder to help more children fighting heart issues, the group came together and in less than a day raised the £680 needed.

Claire Cathcart, from Eccleston, whose three-old-old son has been treated at the hospital for his complex heart conditions is one of the founding members Team 1C.

She said: "I’m absolutely delighted we were able to pull together to get this vital item so quickly.

"One of the reasons we knew how urgently was needed is because at some point we have all been in the situation where our child needed IV access quickly.

"Cardiac babies and children are notoriously difficult to cannulate, especially in an emergency.

"It’s been a problem we’ve had with Jake and they often struggle with him.

"When he was a month old he arrested on the ward and because they couldn’t get a vein , the crash team had to use the drill to get adrenaline in him.

"In a none emergency situation it’s just kinder and less stressful if they can get a cannula or needle in first time, as you can imagine our kids have a lot of intervention so the less traumatic it is the better.

"The staff on the ward are brilliant and always want to make necessary procedures as pain free as possible.

"Hopefully we have made the process easier and less stress for patients and parents now."