THREE members of a York school who have gone through open heart surgery are asking people to take part in Wear Red Day.

Knavesmire Primary School pupils Ruby Trewin and Margaux Barker, as well as teaching assistant Jack Rochester, have all undergone life-changing operations at the Yorkshire Heart Unit in Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

They are asking people to support Wear Red Day on February 6, which aims to raise money for the centre which treats patients from across the region including York and North Yorkshire.

Six-year-old Ruby was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect as a baby and taken into risky surgery to save her life.

Rachel Trewin, Ruby's mum, said: "Before the surgery we were again informed that Ruby may not survive the surgery and that if she did there was a high chance she could be brain damaged. We were informed that Ruby would be in surgery for up to eight hours.

"Just over three hours later Ruby was back on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She spent four days on the ICU and then three days on the cardiology ward before being discharged.

"The care at LGI was absolutely amazing, all the nursing staff, doctors and surgeons were very caring and committed to ensuring we were all well looked after. We stayed in a flat above the ICU and were allowed to be with Ruby as much as we wanted.

"Ruby now sees her cardiologist yearly and is a very lively six-year-old."

Meanwhile, eight-year-old Margaux underwent open heart surgery as a three year old to heal a hole in her heart.

The operation was a success and has transformed her life, enabling her to take a role dancing and singing in this year's pantomime at York Theatre Royal.

And 22-year-old Mr Rochester underwent an operation to correct a hole in his heart at the age of 13.

He said: "It gave me a new lease of life, it made me a lot fitter. Before, I couldn't run the length of a football pitch and now I'm fine. They really looked after me, they help so many families."

Wear Red Day has been organised for the past three years by the Children's Heart Surgery Fund, the charity supporting the heart unit by funding equipment, staff posts and resources and training for those who work on the heart wards.

To take part in Wear Red Day, check on the website: http://www.chsf.org.uk/shop/chsf-events/wrd15.html