Save a Child’s Heart
576. Walter Felman
Walter Felman, from London, is the founder of the UK branch of Save a Child’s Heart, which flies children from all over the world to Israel for life saving surgery.
Walter set the branch up in 1999 and has gone on to raise over £1 million for life-saving cardiac surgery at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel, saving over 4000 children’s lives. The charity also works to improve the skills of medical staff in the children’s home countries.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Walter’s service as founder of UK Save a Child’s Heart has saved young lives. Thanks to his work children have received world-class care that would not otherwise have been available to them and medics in their home countries are improving their skills. I’m pleased to name Walter a Point of Light.”
Mike Freer MP said:
“I don’t think I am being bias by saying Finchley & Golders Green has a proud reputation when it comes to its history of charity and philanthropy. This is no better demonstrated than by the dedication that Walter has given to making a success of the UK branch of Save a Child’s Heart. His commitment to changing people’s lives by giving them access to life saving treatments is staggering. For that reason I congratulate Walter for his Point of Light Award which is well-deserved.”
Walter said:
“I am still trying to come to terms with this wonderful recognition of Save a Child’s Heart, which has not only given many thousands of children the chance of a new life, but works to eliminate a killer heart disease by enabling children from poorer countries to access surgery in their own country and not be reliant on outside charity. My thanks to the Prime Minister, for this opportunity to give wider awareness of the work we do.”