Trustees
Nick de Naeyer - Chair
Married to Diane (area contact for Herts) and father of 4 children, including Jack our heart 'baby', who had AVSD, interrupted aortic arch, cleft palate, etc. etc. Operated on at 5 days old by Mr Anderson in 1996.
I've been a member of ECHO since 1997 and was originally seconded to the committee to have a look at the proposed plans for the new Evelina Children's Hospital. I was soon upgraded to joint vice-chair with Jo Wilson and took over as Chair when Jo became our Director.
I find it fantastically rewarding when we are able to reach out to families in need and help them feel special instead of desperate. Seeing the ECHO children at our events smiling and happy is always an uplifting experience.
When family time allows I am also a scout leader and a freemason.
chair@echo-evelina.org.uk
Margaret Arnell - Vice Chair
I have been with ECHO for nearly 7 years, first as Membership Secretary and now as Vice Chair. I became involved when my son Aaron was born with CHD in 1999. After a year of feeling that we were the only family that CHD had happened to we welcomed the ECHO family and the support that it offered us during some of the worst but also the best times in our lives. It has been great to watch the membership numbers grow and the charity go from strength to strength.
vicechair@echo-evelina.org.uk
Danny Carroll - Treasurer
Born: 31 March 1939.
Educated: Ealing County Grammar school for boys. Qualified as a Certified Accountant in 1964.
Family: Married to Gill in 1969, two daughters Amanda and Alison and one son Neil.
Work experience: Worked for Ford Motor Company in a variety of jobs in the Finance department. Retired in 1997.
Time off: All sports–season ticket holder at Dagenham & Redbridge FC,member of Essex County Cricket Club, active golfer (handicap 12) at Upminster Golf Club and avid watcher of Ice Hockey. Former Director of Ice Hockey UK (the Governing Body for the sport in the UK) and the sport’s representative on the British Olympic Association from 2000-2004.
treasurer@echo-evelina.org.uk
Jane Ward
My second child, Jonathon was diagnosed with co-arctation of the aorta during my pregnancy. It was the start of the one of the loneliest and most frightening journeys that life can throw at you. The corrective surgery he had when he was 7 days old was successful and he is now a happy, healthy 9 year old but I still remember so vividly the fear and helplessness leading up to the birth and when sending him down for life saving surgery, and then the days and weeks and the years that follow. A few years on I helped with some fundraising for ECHO and the more I found out about who ran it and what it did, the more I wanted to get involved and help others going through situations we have all been through. I volunteered to become a trustee and do ward visits when I can.
jane@echo-evelina.org.uk
Jo Rao
I've been an ECHO committee member and area contact for South London for six years now. My son Kiran was diagnosed antenatally with an AVSD and pulmonary stenosis. We were in and out of hospital during the first year and he had two open heart surgeries in his second year.
Those first few years with him were very tough and there were times when we didn't think he'd make it but he is now a relatively healthy seven year old. We have two other children now so life is very busy. Six years ago I could never have imagined that our life could be this 'normal'. However the fear never goes away and we know that Kiran will need more surgery.
It is a privilege to be involved in such a wonderful organisation as ECHO and to have the opportunity to meet other 'heart families'. Even after all this time there are many families who remain just a name on my list so do get in touch.
areas@echo-evelina.org.uk