Stories

The Heart Foundation is celebrating 20 years of the Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award programme.

A 2020 Heart Foundation-funded research project investigating a new treatment strategy for heart failure patients is showing exciting early results. Now we’re funding a new project to see if the same strategy could be used to prevent people going into heart failure in the first place.

Lee Russell has lived an amazing life full of worldly experiences, but nothing could have prepared him for a heart attack in August 2020.

Heart Foundation funded research is investigating a recently discovered nerve cell in the heart which might play in a role in atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm problem. It’s hoped the research could lead to better and more equitable treatment for New Zealanders who have this increasingly common condition.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) didn’t sneak up on Rose quietly – her first episode quite literally took her breath away. But although AF has led to further heart problems, Rose has a positive outlook and, with her condition under control, it doesn’t affect her day-to-day life.

Toni knows the devastating impact of heart disease. His father had a cardiac arrest at just 52. So when Toni was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, he knew the importance of managing his condition for the sake of his tamariki and moko.

Radio star, Sela Alo, is getting behind the Heart Foundation’s Know your pulse message, after his heart rhythm condition, atrial fibrillation, caused a mini stroke while he was on air.

Heart specialist Dr Nigel Lever is riding the length of New Zealand to raise funds for the Heart Foundation. As a past recipient of a Heart Foundation Overseas Training Fellowship, he hopes to raise enough to fund a similar experience for the next generation of Kiwi cardiologists.

Dr Becky Liao is to spend a year at one of the world’s top heart hospitals, funded by a Heart Foundation Fellowship. While there she will carry out research investigating the link between heart rhythm problem atrial fibrillation and leaky heart valves.

Heart troubles were the last thing young and healthy Kerrie expected, but at 12 weeks pregnant with her second child, she experienced a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

In 2021, Lance became a household name when he starred in Celebrity Treasure Island. However, his credentials go beyond reality TV and into music, dance and choreography where he has shared the stage with international icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez.

Duane and his identical twin brother were both born with a rare heart abnormality and were saved by an Australasian-first operation as babies. The procedure had never been done in this part of the world, so the chances of survival were considered very low.