A FATHER and daughter who underwent life-saving heart surgery within two weeks of each other are hoping to raise £25,000 for their surgeon.

Allestree hairdresser Sue Duffin and her dad, David Hearne, both had a diseased valve replaced during open heart surgery at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital in July.

Dave Hearne and Sue Duffin had open heart surgery within two weeks of each other.

Mr Hearne, of Hedingham Way, Mickleover, also underwent a bypass operation.

Mrs Duffin said she and her 76-year-old father wanted to give something back to Giles Peek, a consultant heart surgeon at Glenfield, who carried out the operations.

So tomorrow, they will hold a charity ball at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, followed by various other fund-raising events in the coming weeks, to buy him a £25,000 head camera.

The equipment would enable him to film operations that would assist him in training others.

Mrs Duffin, 49, said: "My and my father's operations were life-saving. He came out of hospital and a few days later I was going in for the same thing."

The valves allow blood to flow out of the heart but can close up and need replacing.

Mrs Duffin, 49, found out four years ago that she had been born with a valve defect but medics told her it would not have to be replaced for another 20 years.

Nevertheless, she was advised to undergo an annual check-up and tests last year revealed the valve had rapidly deteriorated.

Mrs Duffin said: "The scary thing is I could have dropped down at any day.

"I was the fittest I'd ever been – I was going to the gym regularly and playing netball. The guy who carried out the tests said he couldn't believe I was running three times a week and did not sense something was wrong."

Mrs Duffin hopes the ball will raise thousands.

She said: "We've got 290 guests and the evening will include a big auction. Hopefully we will raise in excess of £10,000."

The auction will be hosted by Graham Penny, a regular on TV show Homes Under The Hammer.

Guests will be able to bid on prizes including a day trip on a 55ft yacht in Dubai, a sight-seeing helicopter ride, two tickets to watch the filming of Sky One's Soccer AM programme and tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera at London's West End.

Also up for grabs are entry into Richard Branson's famous Babylon nightclub, a meal for 10 cooked by a top chef, a one-year gym membership and a box at Burton Albion's friendly match against Derby County.

The ball has sold out but to donate money to the cause call in at any NatWest bank and ask to place money in the "head camera fund" account.