Family makes a dash for children's hospital cash

A FAMILY from the Black Country who buckled up to tackle running challenges at the UK's number one theme park resort have raised more than £1,700 for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

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Dad, Matt Hall, and his children, Callum, 11, Joseph, nine, and Amelia, seven, took on the Run Alton Towers races to give back to Birmingham Children's Hospital for the treatment Amelia, received for a hole in her heart.

Matt and his wife, Laura, knew nothing of Amelia's congenital heart defect until she developed tonsilitis last year and the GP decided to listen to her chest where they heard what they thought was a heart murmur.

Amelia was referred to the hospital for a scan and the family were shocked to discover she had a hole in her heart and would need open heart surgery to repair it.

It felt like a rollercoaster of emotion, but thankfully the operation was a success, and after a short stay in hospital, including time on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Amelia was allowed home with her family.