Baby boy from Milton Keynes to toddle 66,000 steps to raise money for heart charity that helped save his life

Little heart warrior Arthur Shields started his sponsored toddle in the snow today with his mum Julia and his little twin sister.

He was born with a range of complex heart conditions that meant he spent the first three months of his life in hospital having the first of many heart surgeries.

Though Arthur and his family live in Milton Keynes, the operations were carried out at Southampton General Hospital.

Here, on the Ocean ward, Julia met other families whose babies were battling heart conditions and together they became little heart warriors.

This week, during national Heart Week, Arthur is joining forces with his fellow survivors, Jack, Jesse, Kiran and Ted, to walk 66,000 steps, which is the length in miles of the circulatory system when stretched out.

Julia said: "We are raising money for two amazing charities - Tiny Tickers who train sonographers to detect heart issues as well as supporting families, and Ocean Ward at Southampton General where our little heart warriors lives were literally saved. "

She added: "The detection, diagnosis and treatment of conditions like theirs gives families precious week months and hopefully years together. In the UK 1 in 125 babies is born with a Congenital Heart Condition... We hope the money we raise will help other little fighters keep fighting."

Tiny Tickers, by training sonographers, helps saves lives, said Julia, who did not learn of Arthur's condition until late in pregnancy. It was missed at her 20 week scan and two further scans.

"I was lucky that Arthur’s condition was found but it was luck," she said. "Some of his friends from the ward were not diagnosed until after birth by which time their hearts had started to fail. Tiny Tickers is working hard to stop this happening, while Ocean Ward continues to go beyond duty in its care and love of children with congenital heart diseases and their families. "

Arthur and his heart buddies started their walks in their individual home towns today. As all of the babies are shielding or partially shielding due to their vulnerability to Covid, walks will take place in secluded spots.

Julia said: "First day of our sponsored walk and it’s minus two and snowing.... Don’t worry though we won’t let that stop us getting our steps in!"

You can make a donation here .