SUPERHEROES descended on Denholme for a sponsored walk to raise money for the Children's Heart Surgery Fund.

Bex Rodgers and close friend Alice Wear organised the event because Bex's daughter Isabella was born with a heart condition and has been greatly helped by the charity.

Isabella, five, was joined by a dozen other children and adults dressed as superheroes, who gathered at Denholme Cricket Club to take part in the walk.

Bex and Alice arranged the walk because the Children's Heart Surgery Fund's massive annual fundraiser at Roundhay Park in Leeds had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The charity asked its regular fundraisers – who include the Rodgers – to instead arrange their own smaller socially-distance events.

All the children taking part in Denholme were friends or family of Isabella, from Keighley, who underwent her fifth open heart surgery five weeks ago.

Alice said: "Isabella is a real-life superhero, and she, Bex and brothers Riley and Harley are extremely grateful for the help and support they receive from the Children's Heart Surgery Fund."

The appeal has so far raised £485, beating the original £300 target, and donations can still be made at justgiving.com/fundraising/chsf2020.

Bex said: "We are passionate about Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and all they do to support families during their stay on the ward, the equipment they provide, and the toys and entertainment they provide. The list is endless!

"The main reason we love them and fundraise, is to say thank you to our heroes on Ward 51 for doing what they do so we have Bella with us today."

Isabella was born in December 2014 and had her first open heart surgery at just five days old.

Bella was diagnosed with hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS), which means she has no right ventricle. Her heart condition was diagnosed when Rebecca was 20 weeks pregnant.

Since Isabella was born, the Rodgers family have been active supporters of the Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF), raising thousands of pounds over the years.

Throughout 2019 they collected and hand-wrapped 400 selection boxes for the CHSF Christmas party.

Earlier this year the family revealed Isabella would have to undergo heart surgery again, this year, as part of her ongoing treatment at Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.

The unit’s expert surgeons that the procedure would give Bella a better quality of life.

In 2017 Bex came together with three other ‘heart mummies’ to organise a superhero fun day for the heart unit.

The mothers from Cullingworth, Keighley, Bradford and Eldwick all had children who received treatment at the life-saving unit.