After a relatively successful first year of real Charity activity KEEPTHEBEAT wanted to continue to move forward and increase their work with both Fundraising and raising Awareness of Congenital Heart Defects . A decision was taken to invite Stacey Whitely to become our first Fundraising Marketing & Development Manager responsible for development of KEEPTHEBEAT in Lincolnshire. Stacey had worked hard on a number of fundraising activities, and had shown a great deal of enthusiasm and drive in moving the charity forward. KEEPTHEBEAT felt that we needed to localise some support and representation in an area that is geographically challenging, and felt it was best that someone who understood the situation from first hand was required. Obviously this is a voluntary role, which has some huge challenges, but all at KEEPTHEBEAT have great confidence in Stacey and are delighted that she has decided to join the team.

Abigail Tansey (Treasurer) said “with her signature smile and boundless enthusiasm I’m sure Stacey will be an enormous asset to KEEPTHEBEAT”

I live in Lincoln with my husband Mick, our two children Logan & Darcie and Branston the dog!  I graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2001 with BA (Hons) in International Tourism and we made Lincoln our permanent home in 2002 when I started working for Anglian Water.

In 2006 we married in the small Lincolnshire village of Branston and gave birth to our first child, Logan in May 2009 when our lives were changed forever.  Logan was diagnosed at 6 weeks old with Tetralogy of Fallot. The elation of a new born and the joyful emotions that came with that came crashing down. As first time parents we found it difficult to know where to turn for support and advice as this was not part of any antenatal class or ‘new parent’ manual!  Family meant more to us than ever before and our priorities in life changed dramatically – suddenly some things really did not matter.

Logan underwent successful open heart surgery in April 2010 at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester. It was here we met the founders of KEEPTHEBEAT when both Albert Tansey & Sofia Larsson were  undergoing treatment too.  Logan became a big brother in November 2011 when I gave birth to our daughter Darcie.

I now work part time for Anglian Water but just felt I needed, and wanted to use our experience as a family to help others in the same or similar situations.

I became heavily involved with supporting KEEPTHEBEAT after choosing to hold a charity day in 2010 at Logan’s Nursery to celebrate one year on from his operation.  We chose KEEPTHEBEAT as we knew every penny would go straight to the cause. The support and generosity people had for this new Charity was overwhelming and encouraging for the future of KEEPTHEBEAT.

Logan and all the other heart children and families we have met along our journey are extremely inspirational which has been my motivation to provide the much needed information and support that is currently lacking in Lincolnshire.

Over the coming years my aim is to implement support groups in Lincoln and the surrounding villages as well as create a working relationship with Lincoln County Hospital Paediatric Department, Children’s Ward, the Outpatients Cardiac Clinic and the Maternity Wing/Nocton Ward.  Currently, all of these areas have very little information and support for families affected by congenital heart defects.

Fundraising is very important and without it the charity cannot move forward with its long term aims and aspirations. Therefore over time, annual events for the Lincolnshire region will be organised in addition to supporting individual fundraisers to raise money for the cause but more importantly raise the awareness.

I hope you can support me and KEEPTHEBEAT in the task ahead!

Stacey x