Member Article

Families affected by heart problems win support from TT2

North East parents of children and babies with heart problems have been given a financial boost to help them get through difficult times.

The operator of the Tyne Tunnels, TT2, has given heart charity, Red Sky Foundation, a £2,000 donation to help families with the costs of transport and parking whilst visiting their poorly children in hospital.

Red Sky Foundation was granted full charitable status in March 2020, set up by Sergio and Emma Petrucci after their daughter Luna underwent life-saving heart surgery at the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, in 2015.

Looking out of a window at a fiery red sky on the morning of Luna’s operation, Sergio vowed that when she fully recovered, he would do everything he could to support children’s heart services in the region. The couple set up the Red Sky Foundation in honour of the team at the Freeman Hospital who saved their daughter’s life.

To date, over £900,000 has been raised – funding a variety of important services and equipment for the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital and James Cook Hospital in Teesside.

The charity has also provided over 400 lifesaving defibrillators for public places and works closely with schools and communities to ensure they can be used to urgently help treat people suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

Sergio Petrucci, founder of Red Sky Foundation, said: “We are really grateful to TT2 because donations like this help ensure parents who are going through very worrying and stressful times, do not have to worry about the financial burden of being able to be by their child’s bedside, and to boost the funds even further we’re going to match fund TT2’s donation to ensure our partnership means we can be there for parents when they need us most.”

Two of the North East’s most well-known annual charity fundraising events are run by the Red Sky Foundation – the Red Sky Ball and the White Party which have attracted support from thousands of individuals.

TT2’s Chief Operating Officer, Shaun Simmons, said: “When we heard we could play a part in supporting parents in this position, we were delighted to help.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by TT2 / Tyne Tunnels .