Kirsty Howard celebrates her birthday with Mohamed Al Fayed

Brave Kirsty Howard, a girl who, at the age of four was diagnosed with a back-to-front heart and given just months to live, celebrated her 14th birthday with Mohamed Al Fayed at Harrods. Mr Al Fayed, who has been supporting Kirsty’s fundraising efforts for Francis House, the children’s hospice she attends in Manchester, laid on a special birthday treat for her on 25th September 2009.

All star treatment

From the moment she touched down in London, until it was time to return home, Kirsty received the Harrods all star treatment. Highlights included a chauffeur-driven tour of Hyde Park in a liveried Harrods horse-drawn carriage with model Caprice and actress Sue Johnston, both patrons of the Kirsty Club charity, an a la carte lunch in the store’s renowned Georgian Restaurant and lots of shopping.


But perhaps the ultimate highlight of the day was when Mr Al Fayed told her she could select whichever toy she wanted from the Toy Kingdom and keep it as a very special birthday present.

Kirsty’s condition

Kirsty in one in 60 million children who suffer from a condition that is so rare, it doesn’t even have a name. Kirsty is the only child in Great Britain (in fact there has only been one other child in the world) to have been born with her heart back-to-front, meaning all the other organs are misplaced. Her day-to-day living is severely restricted by abnormal blood vessels developing in her lung.

Making a difference

The Kirsty Club raises funds for Francis House Children’s hospice. It is a loving home which helps over 150 families in the North West with children afflicted with severe mental and physical handicaps. Staff work around the clock to ensure these youngsters fit as much into their short years as possible, whilst helping their parents come to terms with the inevitable. Kirsty’s Appeal has already raised over £5 million. Mohamed Al Fayed has given the largest donation of £120,000 and now donates £10,000 per month.

How you can help

Help give children with life-limiting conditions a chance to experience as much fun and happiness as they can. Children’s hospices are not entitled to any government funding and rely heavily on the generosity of the public to keep their service going, something which sadly has been badly hit by the recession. You can help keep this incredible service going by making a donation. Visit www.francishouse.org.uk for more details.

Find our more about the other charities and causes Mr Al Fayed supports.