School raises £80,000 for boy with heart condition

A school has raised £80,000 to enable the building of a classroom to accommodate a boy who was born with half a heart.

Eight-year-old Vinnie, who attends St Alban's Catholic Primary School in Kings Heath, has a complex congenital heart condition and climbing stairs can pose health risks.

His school launched a fundraiser last year to build a new downstairs room for his class - and the appeal has now hit its fundraising target.

Vinnie and his mum Claire told BBC Radio WM they were touched by the support for the appeal, which they said ranged from local pubs putting on events to Aston Villa footballer Tyrone Mings making a donation.

"Your donations have meant so much more than just numbers—it's helping give Vinnie the chance to stay alongside his friends," Claire added, in a post on Facebook.

She said Vinnie had a "contagious smile" and he faced his health issues "with a bravery that inspires everyone around him".

Vinnie's classmates had to move to an upstairs room when they started Year Two in September, but the school is now planning a single-storey extension on the ground floor where the children can be together again.

On a GoFundMe page for the new classroom, the school explained the children could not stay in an existing downstairs room, because it is designed with facilities for younger pupils. These rooms were also too small.

School bosses added that they had looked into installing an elevator or stairlift but neither option was workable, partly due to asbestos in the building's walls.

Claire said she was also grateful to the school's "amazing" head teacher Rebecca McKinney, for her work on the appeal.

"She's really put herself out there for Vinnie, really made him feel part of the school," she said.

Aston Villa have been contacted for comment.

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