Heart op tot Joshua Whittaker took part in a charity fundraiser this weekend.
Joshua, of Bolton Avenue, Huncoat, beat the odds by surviving a high-risk 12-hour open heart operation just two weeks after he was born in April 2008.
He was diagnosed with a rare condition in which the pulmonary artery, taking blood to the heart, and the aorta, moving blood away from the heart, do not separate properly.
And this weekend the brave two-year-old helped mum Kim collect money for Alder Hey Children's Hospital at a charity race day.
Kim, 27, said: "We did a ladies stock car race at Warton Stock Car Club in Carnforth on Sunday for Alder Hey. There were around 12 girls taking part, and Josh and I were walking around with a collection bucket.
"It went really well, everyone had a good time. We raised £1,000, which was brilliant, and Abbey National have very kindly said that they’re going to double it to £2,000."
Joshua is in and out of hospital and is going under the knife again next year to insert a ‘balloon’ into the two main arteries to his lungs, which have narrowed. He may require a further operation when he is 11 or 12.
Kim said: "His heart valves have started leaking, so he’s getting that sorted out in a few weeks. He's got his big operation next year, we're just waiting for a date."
The charity stock car race was part of the Banger Caravan meeting on Sunday August 29 at Warton Stock Car Club in Carnforth. Anyone wishing to donate to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital appeal can contact Kim Whittaker on 0759 8497876.
