Cora's Team

Ride for Breakthroughs for Little Hearts!

We are raising money to support innovative cardiac research for kids at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).  Every dollar that Cora’s Team raises goes directly to the Topolewski Pediatric Heart Valve Center, a research fund established by CHOP with the dedicated purpose of developing new and better ways to treat children with cardiac valve disorders like Cora’s.

With your help, we can better understand the causes of pediatric heart disease, develop new treatments, improve long-term outcomes and offer new hope to families who need it most.

Join the movement!

Why I Ride

• When Cora was born, her heart had several congenital defects: an aortic arch that was too narrow, a VSD (hole in her heart wall), and an aortic valve that was too small and unicuspid. When she was four days old, she underwent open heart surgery at CHOP to correct her aortic arch and VSD. Her cardiac team decided to wait to correct her aortic valve until she was bigger and stronger. With the creation of the Topolewski Pediatric Heart Valve Center, CHOP's researchers are exploring new ways to treat valve disorders like Cora's, such as through valve repair rather than replacement, or through a less invasive catheter procedure rather than open heart surgery. Today, Cora is 5 years old, in kindergarten, and enjoys gymnastics, swimming, and riding roller coasters! Her cardiac team continues to monitor her progress and valve function and one day she will need medical intervention for her aortic valve.
• Together, we’ll create a breakthrough for every child: "The Philly-Spin-In not only inspires the Cardiac Center team to continue our pursuit of clinical excellence, but the funding the event generates also allows us to push new boundaries of research and patient care initiatives that help define the future of pediatric heart care." – Dr. Jonathan Chen

How You Can Help

By donating and helping us support little hearts through groundbreaking and innovative research and care here at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“From the bottom of all the hearts we touch, from the bottom of all the hearts we work on, from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you.”
  — Stephanie Fuller, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon