Sweat it out for Heart Kids   27 Aug 2014

Sweat it out for Heart Kids

Jetts Fitness 12-hour Treadathon

About 1,200 people are expected to take part in a 12-hour Treadathon Challenge in their bid to raise funds for the 12 families every week in New Zealand who are told that their baby has a congenital heart defect.

Run by Jetts Fitness, the Treadathon Challenge will see two treadmills operating non-stop from 7am to 7pm on 1st September in each of its 52 participating gyms across the country. All proceeds of this fun, hot fundraising event go to Heart Kids New Zealand, the only charity that supports those affected by a congenital heart defect or an acquired childhood heart condition.

While we know the benefits of exercising, exercise is not an option for some heart kids especially those with serious, complex congenital heart defects. Their heart is fragile; walking just a few steps will wear them out. Although corrective surgery helps improve the function of their heart, there is no cure for a congenital heart defect and the challenges they face are lifelong.

Rob Lutter, CEO of Heart Kids NZ, said, “We are thrilled to be Jetts’ charity of choice and to be part of this exciting event. We hope lots of Kiwis choose to take up this fun, easy fitness challenge to help the many heart kids, by no choice of their own, face the lifelong challenges of their heart conditions.”

The Jetts Treadathon is open to both members and non-members of its clubs. Participants are asked to fill a 30-min slot with a $5 donation to Heart Kids. They are also encouraged to obtain personal sponsorship for their efforts through their own online fundraising page athttp://www.everydayhero.co.nz/event/jettstreadathon. Call your nearest Jetts Club to book a slot.

On the same day, Jetts NZ Director, Claire Attard and National Support Manager, Nick Hammond will take on a massive challenge of cycling to 25 Jetts clubs across Auckland in just 12 hours. The duo will start at Jetts Papakura and finish at Jetts Albany. There will be a BBQ and other fun activities from 5pm at Jetts Albany, 24 Tawa Drive, Albany where everyone is welcome to join. Members of the public can also show their support by making a donation to Heart Kids through Claire and Nick’s Bike-The-Beat Challenge online fundraising page athttp://www.everydayhero.co.nz/event/bikethebeat.

The funds raised from the two events will help Heart Kids support the 600 new heart families who will welcome a heart baby to their lives this year alone. It will help provide emotional and practical support for parents as they sit by their child's bedside following open heart surgery on their little one. It will help send heart kids from all across the country to camps, where they can experience what their peers sometimes take for granted, in a safe and confidence-building environment where they'll make life-long friends with other kids who really 'get' what they're going through.

Also, Jetts will start a Trade Me Auction at http://trade.me/heartkids on 2 September to raise funds for Heart Kids. The auction includes a hamper of essential reads from Random House, a signed Warriors shirt and much more.

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About Heart Kids New Zealand

Heart Kids NZ is the only organisation in New Zealand dedicated to providing lifelong support for all those affected by childhood heart conditions.

Started in 1980 by two heart mums due to a need for parental information and support, the network continued to grow and formalised itself as Heart Children Incorporated in 1984 and subsequently changed its name to Heart Children New Zealand Incorporated.

With an increasing number of adults surviving childhood heart conditions, the organisation has responded by extending its support to heart children throughout their lives, not just in their younger years.

Heart Kids NZ (www.heartnz.org.nz) now stretches across the nation providing kids, teens, adults and families affected by childhood heart conditions with free access to its 50+ services. The charity is a non-government organisation and is not affiliated with the Heart Foundation. Charity Registration CC20102.

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