(L-R) Renae Ebanks, Josie Doran, Lesley Maddock (all of Little Trotters), Ben Hart (CHF) and Ailian Evans (mother of baby Nolan)

Students from Little Trotters Farm & Nursery School and St. Ignatius Catholic School raised thousands of dollars for Hart for Hearts, the pediatric arm of Cayman Heart Fund.

The bake sale at Little Trotters and dress-down day at St. Ignatius were organized by Ailian and Sean Evans, parents of baby Nolan Rory Evans, who passed away earlier this year due to congenital heart defect (CHD) complications.

The Little Trotters bake sale raised $370 for the initiative, which helps raise public awareness and provides financial assistance to families in Cayman when their child is born with a congenital heart defect.

Ms. Lesley Maddock, Little Trotters Farm & Nursery School Manager said, “The importance of raising awareness and teaching empathy to children cannot be measured. We feel honored to be asked to participate in fundraisers such as Hart for Hearts, and hope that we can help to make a difference.”

Ailian and Sean Evans accept a check from St. Ignatius Catholic School Head of Years 7-11 Bernadette Devlin, representing money raised for the Hart for Hearts program during a student dress-down day.

The St. Ignatius “civvy day” raised more than $1,700 and included a presentation by Cayman Heart Fund Director Dr. Christine Chen.

St. Ignatius’ Head of Years 7-11 Bernadette Devlin said, “It was a pleasure for us to be able to support such worthy causes. Having the presenters come to school to talk to the children and explain where the money will be used really raised their awareness and motivated them to contribute.”

Cayman Heart Fund Coordinator Colleen Mellott said, “The students’ efforts are greatly appreciated, which allows us to raise awareness of the problems families in Cayman face when their child is born with congenital heart defect.”