Media Release 14 May 2009

Make a hearty splash for heart children

Want to know more about an event where fitness doesn’t count and a few extra pounds may actually help? An event where a belly full of carbohydrates is sure to aid performance? Then read on … because Heart Children New Zealand’s signature event, the Heart Stopper Challenge, is coming to a town near you.

With eleven events scheduled nationwide, the Auckland Heart Stopper Challenge will be held at Les Mills, Victoria Street on 27 May at 3pm.

The challenge is for teams to raise funds by getting together in groups of four or five, choose a dress theme, (the wackier the better) and plunge into an icy pool for five minutes.

“So far we have over twenty teams taking part in the challenge and it’s a fun event that really makes a difference to children with heart defects and their families; they go through so much so it’s a great balance to do something fun for awareness” says Liz Beck, event coordinator for Heart Children NZ and the Heart Stopper Challenge.

Children with heart defects are often cooled in icy slush to slow the heart rate prior to open heart surgery. That’s the inspiration for this very chilly challenge.

“The Heart Stopper Challenge has proved to be an engaging event and a fun one too” says Acting CEO Sarah Bell. “People really feel for our heart kids and love this event, there is a lot of effort and creativity that goes into the team costumes and it’s our biggest fundraising event for the year so we are really looking forward to seeing what this year presents!"

Held during Heart Children New Zealand’s national appeal week, money raised from enthusiastic plungers will go towards supporting children with heart disease and their families.

You may be surprised to learn that by the time you sit down to dinner tonight two children will have undergone open heart surgery at Auckland Hospital. By the end of this week twelve babies will be born with a heart defect in New Zealand. That’s 600 every year. And sadly, childhood heart disease will claim more young lives than any other single cause.

Founded by heart parents and run by heart parents, Heart Children New Zealand know only too well the desolation childhood heart disease can cause. They’re the only organisation lending a helping hand to children affected by a heart condition and their families and they’ve been doing it for 25 years.

“I was so scared at first. It was the compassion and support of the caring people at Heart Children NZ that kept me going. The approach to caring for our whole family made all the difference. The last three years have been an incredible journey. Heart Children NZ was right there beside us, they know our universe, because it’s theirs too” – Liz Blackwell, Mum to Matthew age 4 – Takapuna, Auckland.

Visit www.heartchildren.org.nz and make a hearty splash for heart kids. A plunge for heart kids guarantees you a nice warm fuzzy feeling post event – try it and see.

ENDS

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