Heart Jam – Bay of Plenty’s largest kids’ aerobics

Media Release 19 May 2009

Heart Jam – Bay of Plenty’s largest kids’ aerobics class!

Two thousand Bay of Plenty children will be jumping, jiving and smiling simultaneously at 10 o’clock next Tuesday 26 May! That’s two thousand focused faces, four thousand feet jiving and eight thousand limbs pumping – photo opportunities galore! These kids will be participating in Heart Children New Zealand’s Heart Jam - the Bay’s largest aerobic class.

And behind all the fun is the fantastic support that they are giving to Heart Children New Zealand in true kiwi ‘get in behind’ style. A gold coin donation from each child taking part in Heart Jam will raise funds for Heart Children, but more importantly it will be a learning experience for the children about the plight of kiwi kids with heart conditions, and the great benefits of exercise to a healthy heart.

This is the first Heart Jam to hit New Zealand and it’s happening right here in the Bay.

“Heart Jam is a great new addition to our Heart Children national awareness week. We are trialling it here in the Bay of Plenty as this is where the idea was generated” says Sarah Bell, Acting CEO for Heart Children New Zealand. “It will be loads of fun and will help school children realise that there are kids in their community with heart conditions. And that is why they maybe can’t run as fast as them or they tire easily at sport. But they are children who have been through an enormous amount and who try and live as normal a life as possible, including having the opportunity to jump and jive doing Heart Jam.”

Heart Children New Zealand is the only organization dedicated to supporting children born with heart defects, and their families. Twelve babies are born every week in NZ with a heart defect, with nine children undergoing open heart surgery each week. Heart Children New Zealand provides vital emotional and practical support to these children and their families while they are in hospital and when they return home. It is not Government funded and relies on the generosity of the New Zealand community for funding.

Most children born with heart defects undergo surgery, with many having to undergo multiple surgeries. Many heart children live with on-going difficulties, but try to live their lives as normally as possible. Being active and exercising regularly is a key ingredient for maintaining a healthy heart and body for heart children as much as it is for all children.

That’s why James Compton and Nakita Griffiths, two local heart children, are enthusiastically supporting Heart Jam with their classmates at Omanu School. James and Nakita will be joining the other children at Omanu School jumping and jiving on Tuesday 26 May.

James was born with a serious heart condition where his heart and lungs were not joined properly. He spent the first five weeks of his life in Greenlane Hospital and had his first open heart surgery at just two weeks old. Two more operations followed at nine and eighteen months.

“I’m a Zipper Kid, with a scar down my chest, and I still have a heart condition, but you’d never know that I was any different from other kids if I have my shirt on. And you won’t know when I am doing Heart Jam, which is great because I want to play sports and be just like other kids” says James.

Nakita was born with only half a heart and has undergone four open heart surgeries to reconstruct her heart. The chances of her survival at birth were given as minimal. But she is a fighter and despite on-going struggles, she too wants to live life just like other kiwi kids. Sporting activities can be a struggle but is very excited about the up-coming Heart Jam.

Ten schools, with over two thousand students, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be participating in Heart Jam on Tuesday 26 May at 10.00am. Each school will run Heart Jam in their own school grounds. Donations to support Heart Children can be made by calling 0900 4 HEART to make a $20 donation.

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