Stories

Our Stand Strong campaign, which encourages whānau to take control of their heart health, made a splash at the Waka Ama National Sprint Championships at Lake Karāpiro in January. 

When Caroline couldn't face a champagne breakfast on Christmas day, she knew something was wrong. But she never guessed the vomiting and sweating she'd had the night before were signs of a heart attack.

Phil was born with a congenital heart condition, which has required a number of heart surgeries over the years. A keen athlete, Phil had to give up competitive sport but believes it’s worth it for the life he’s got to enjoy.

Wellingtonian Jeff McEwan is living life to its fullest, though just four years ago he was on the operating table receiving life-saving surgery for blockages in his arteries.

Faye, a 48-year-old schoolteacher at a primary school in Whanganui, epitomises the term ‘busy mum’ juggling a job, husband Ivan, and three children. A cardiac arrest at a sports event brought her life to a screeching halt forcing her to reassess things.

For Natalie, a young wife, mother and nurse, a cardiac event happened on what seemed like an ordinary evening. But her nursing background immediately sounded internal alarms and she knew she was experiencing something out of the ordinary.

Tom Ross began volunteering for the Heart Foundation over ten years ago after suffering an unexpected heart attack.

Exceptional volunteer, Lynne Hawkins, is once again generously contributing her time and energy to the Big Heart Appeal street collection on Friday 23 February and Saturday 24 February 2024 in Hokitika. Her commitment to the cause is rooted in her personal connection to heart disease.

Wellingtonian Jeff McEwan, photographer, father and husband, is living life to its fullest, though just four years ago he was on the operating table receiving life-saving surgery for blockages in his arteries. Now he is volunteering for the Heart Foundation and serving as a beacon of hope for heart health.

Every February for the past twelve years, Jean McLarnon has been at the forefront of the Heart Foundation's Big Heart Appeal street collection in Tauranga, serving as a volunteer area coordinator. Her motivation stems from a family connection with heart disease, but it's also down to her passion for making a difference in her community.

Every year, volunteers like Amy Young come together to support the Heart Foundation's Big Heart Appeal street collection in February. But for Amy, this heartfelt mission goes beyond a yearly tradition as she takes on the role of an area coordinator for the first time in Cromwell.

A 10-year follow-up study on the heart health of Pacific people in Canterbury will generate valuable insights into how risk factors change over time and identify strategies for preventing and managing heart disease.