The mother and godfather of a Silsden boy are leaping to the rescue of the hospital that saved his life as a baby.

Kirsty Whitaker and Damon Reece will do a parachute jump in support of the campaign to save Leeds General Infirmary’s children’s heart unit.

Their jump will also raise money for a fighting fund for court action against the planned closure of the surgery unit.

Kirsty and husband Shaun’s son Joseph, now six, will have to travel to Newcastle for heart operations in future.

Joseph had an operation soon after he was born because of a congenital heart defect, and he will need operations throughout his childhood.

Kirsty said that having to travel to Newcastle for operations would take Joseph, Shaun and her away from the support of family and friends.

The decision to close the Leeds unit was made this summer following a nationwide review into children’s heart services.

Yorkshire politicians have called for Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to intervene, and parents are campaigning to stop the closure.

Kirsty is also organising a “Fighting Fun Day” at St James’s Church, Silsden, on Saturday, from 9am to noon.