A HAMPSHIRE dad who has watched his son battle heart disease is hoping to raise thousands for a specialist ward tonight.

Mark Ind’s son Alex was born with a serious heart defect and has undergone three major operations on Southampton General Hospital’s Ocean Ward.

Alex, 12, is doing well now, but he will need treatment in the future, so dad Mark has organised a glitzy gala dinner in aid of the Wessex Heartbeat Young Adults Cardiac Ward Appeal.

The appeal aims to raise £1.4m to provide a state-of-the-art 24-bed unit at the hospital specifically designed for young adults, providing a smooth transition from the children’s ward to the mature adult’s ward.

The venue for Mark’s fundraising event tonight will be the Holiday Inn Farnborough, where he is manager. There is a three-course meal, live entertainment and an auction including tickets to see Take That at Wembley.

Mark, who has raised more than £65,000 for charity in the last eight years, said: “We know we are very lucky to have Alex running around and doing everything his friends can do and this is our way of giving something back.

“Alex will need more treatment so it makes sense to raise money for this ward which he will need to make use of one day. It is a great idea because the leap from children’s ward to the adult’s ward can be too much to cope with emotionally.”

Tickets cost £55 each. For yours call Mark on 07736 746177.