CHILDREN and staff at a York school turned red for the day to support a pupil’s family.

The 396 youngsters at Copmanthorpe School wore red yesterday to support the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) at LGI in Leeds.

The school took part as Zac Mead, the three-year-old brother of Year 6 pupil Jake Mead, has received treatment at the Leeds hospital for a heart defect. The children’s mother, Anna, also volunteers at school and is training to become a teaching assistant.

Head teacher, Jenny Rogers, said: “CHSF provides valuable equipment, resources and research, as well as providing a support service for both the children and their families along the way.

“It’s good to be able to support a charity that has helped one of our families and because we did it last year we said we’d do it again this time too.”

The CHSF campaign is for a state-of-the-art children’s theatre in Leeds to deliver all open heart surgery and minimally invasive heart procedures. At the end of the school day a total of £425 had been raised. Anyone wanting to make a donation can do so by texting: WEAR17 £5 to 70070 (or £1, £2, £3 and £10).