News

Primary school children from Royal Oak, Onehunga, Oranga, Te Papapa and St Joseph's are, for the first time, taking home a "healthy" alternative to the usual school fundraisers of chocolates and raffles this month.

A coalition partnership made up of The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, The Rotary Club of One Tree Hill and ProCare Network Auckland have devised a pilot programme for schools in these suburbs to raise money and promote good health at the same time.

The "Healthy Hearts Action Plan" is raising awareness of cardiovascular fitness through writing and poster competitions, school assemblies and a "take-home" fundraiser ticket. The tickets will be available from 21 September and replaces traditional fundraising items with a healthy alternative.   

The "Heart Risk Assessment Tickets" and a "Heart Risk Quiz" will be given out to students, who then hand them out to adult family members and friends in the community. When the adults have a heart risk assessment from their local healthcare provider, the tickets are stamped. For each stamped ticket which is returned to the school, the school receives $20.

The Heart Foundation's cardiac care manager, Stewart Eadie, said that with today's increasingly health conscious society, it is time to move children away from the traditional chocolate or lollies fundraisers.

"Schools play an important part in helping parents teach students the value of good nutrition and exercise as part of a 'heart-healthy' lifestyle," says Mr Eadie. "By introducing a fundraiser that reflects the good messages being given in today's nutrition curriculum information, these messages are reinforced and ingrained in children's minds for years to come. The children are also passing on the good health messages that they learn to their families and community members."

Posters, leaflets and school newsletters throughout the region will advise students and parents that the programme is underway. Some schools also have chosen to participate in a poster making competition and a "Healthy Lifestyle Cameo Writing Competition". The posters will be judged and prizes awarded to the winners at school assembly.

There will be also be presentations on the dangers of cardiovascular disease and how it can be avoided. Students, parents and teachers will learn about the risks of high blood pressure, smoking and obesity.

Each student will then be given five Heart Risk Assessment Tickets to give to their adult family members and encourage them to have an assessment. The adults then have four weeks to have their assessments done and have the children return the stamped tickets to school. Although the assessment is not free, it is a fantastic opportunity to help fundraise for the schools while doing something positive about heart health.

Mr Eadie said the programme is about raising awareness of the risks of cardiovascular disease and how it can be prevented.

"We know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in New Zealand, accounting for 40% of all deaths. But many heart attacks and strokes are preventable. That's why it's so important that people have a risk assessment, particularly if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease."

The Healthy Hearts Action Plan is being collectively funded through money raised by the Heart Foundation's and Rotary Club of One Tree Hill's "Twin Coaster Charity Fishing Contest" held earlier this year, and funds donated by ProCare Network Auckland. It is also supported by Pharmac.

Local media are invited to the writing competitions and assemblies being held on dates determined by each school.

Media Contact:

Stewart Eadie
Cardiac Care Manager
The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand
Tel 09-571-9191 ext 749

David Maida
Communications Assistant
The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand
Tel 09-571-9191 ext 712
Mob 021-040-3312