Kiwis Urged to Take an Icy Plunge for Children

PRESS RELEASE

Kiwis Urged to Take an Icy Plunge for Children with Heart Defects

Monday May 16, 2011

Every week in New Zealand 12 babies are born with a heart condition, and this month @Heart, the charity that helps these babies throughout their lives, is asking Kiwis to take the Heart Stopper Challenge and plunge into an icy pool for five minutes to raise funds and help support heart kids through life.

The inspiration behind the Heart Stopper plunge into an ice pool is the 450 open heart surgeries that are performed annually on children in New Zealand – some of these babies in their first days of life. Surgeons use an icy slush to slow the metabolism during surgery, to allow a longer window of operating time.

@Heart (formerly Heart Children) assists all those affected by childhood heart conditions by providing functional and emotional support, specialised equipment, information and educational resources, training and counselling as well as social affiliation to thousands of kids, teens, adults and families. The organisation, which is funded solely through the generosity of New Zealanders, aims to improve the lives of all those living with a childhood heart condition.

Lara Syddall, CEO @Heart, is urging people to take the plunge for heart kids, sponsor a plunger, or text HEART to 469 to make a $3 donation. “By doing this you are helping @Heart families get the support they need,” Lara says. “It is often said that every day a family has with their child is a blessing, but one that is often fraught with uncertainty and anxiety about what the future holds,” she says.

“We are passionate that no child, teen or adult should face the journey of a childhood heart condition alone unsupported. Every journey is different and we tailor our support accordingly. That’s how we make a difference to thousands of heart kids and their families.”

Held around Awareness Week (22nd – 27th May), the Heart Stopper Challenge is @Heart’s signature event and nine events are scheduled nationwide this year. Participants raise money through being sponsored to take the plunge, and New Zealanders from all walks of life including politicians, celebrities, service men and women, corporates and students have taken part since the event began in 2000.

- ENDS –

Further information:

Heart Stopper Challenge - when and where:

Heart Stopper West Coast Greymouth Aquatic Centre, 7th May, PAST
Heart Stopper Wellington, Frank Kitts Park, Wellington 11am, 14-May
Heart Stopper Manawatu, The Square, Palmerston North, 11am, 22-May
Heart Stopper Waikato, The Base, Hamilton, 1pm, 22-May
Heart Stopper Coromandel, Waiomu Beach, 10.30am, 22-May
Heart Stopper Auckland Takutai Square, Britomart, 2pm, 26th May
Heart Stopper Blenheim , Stadium 2000, 11am, 28-May
Heart Stopper Bay of Plenty, Bunnings Warehouse, 10am, 28-May
Heart Stopper Rotorua, the Aquatic Centre, 12noon, 29-May

What:
Teams of four to six people take the plunge into an icy spa pool for five minutes. Get a group of mates, colleagues or family members together, create a team theme, come in fancy dress, get a bit chilly and have a laugh while supporting heart kids through life. After your plunge you can reward yourself with a soak in the onsite hot spa and a celebration with your supporters and team mates.

Entry:
There is no entry fee to take on the Heart Stopper Challenge, but we do ask that each team member pledges to raise at least $100 to support the work of @Heart.

To register:

Go to http://www.heartstopper.org.nz/

About @Heart
@Heart is the only organisation in New Zealand that provides lifelong support for all those affected by childhood heart conditions.

Started in 1980 by two heart mums to ease the chronic need for parental information and support, the network continued to grow and formalised itself as Heart Children NZ in 1984.

With an increasing number of adults surviving childhood heart conditions, the organisation responded by extending its support to heart children throughout their lives, not just in their younger years. It changed its name to @Heart in 2010 to better represent all those affected by childhood heart conditions. The organisation has kids@Heart, teens@Heart, adults@Heart and families@Heart.

@Heart (www.heartnz.org.nz) now stretches across the nation providing kids, teens, adults and families with free access to its 50+ services. The charity is not funded by the Government and is not affiliated to the Heart Foundation. Charity Registration no. CC20102.

© Scoop Media