Power NI funds RVH Heart Centre sensory projector
A leading Northern Ireland charity that supports children and young people living with congenital heart disease has received nine hundred pounds in funding from Power NI.
The donation from Northern Ireland’s largest energy provider will allow for the installation of a new wall projector in the Royal Victoria Hospital’s echo room. Once operational, the equipment will distract babies and children when having an echo in the Heart Centre.
Power NI employee Chloe Barr, alongside her colleagues Amy Bogle and Orlaith Murtagh, nominated Children’s Heartbeat Trust to receive the funding, with a charity spokesperson saying the equipment will allow clinicians to get a clearer scan and achieve a much better overall outcome during each cardiac echo.
Ashleigh O’Neil – Senior Marketing and Communications Executive at Power NI – said: “At Power NI, we are committed to supporting the communities we serve across Northern Ireland.
“Through our Helping Hands programme, we are proud to support Children’s Heartbeat Trust and the valuable work that they do for children living with congenital heart disease and their families. We hope that this funding will help create a more comfortable and positive experience for young patients attending the Heart Centre.”
Working closely with the Children’s Heart Centre at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, the charity provides practical, emotional and financial support. “My family have been part of the Children’s Heartbeat Trust Stars Group for bereaved parents after we lost our son Jake at two weeks old to congenital heart disease in October 2021,” said Chloe.
“As part of the group, we meet regularly to plan and organise activities and remember our babies. Unfortunately, our group continues to grow in numbers. Children’s Heartbeat Trust also supports families from antenatal diagnosis, providing parent accommodation in the hospital, offering guidance and support while the family navigate the diagnosis, they also have respite caravans which we have been fortunate enough to use as a family.
“I applied for the funding to help CHT support the families of other babies and children during their hospital stay, operation or in their heart meet ups.”
Power NI colleague Amy Bogle added: “I applied to support the Children’s Heartbeat Trust through our Helping Hands Programme as an opportunity to honour my dear friend and colleague Chloe’s son – Jake – and my little nephew, Elijah.
“Although both boys are sadly no longer with us, their memories live on in our hearts. I feel honoured to support a charity that makes such a meaningful difference to children and familiar facing the challenges of childhood heart conditions, and to help keep both boys' memories alive through this special cause.”