HeartKids announces new major sponsor - Retail Food Group
RFG franchisees hope to raise over $1 million in the next 12 months from tasty HeartKids Combo’s and customer donations.
Up to $1 from each HeartKids Combo will be donated to HeartKids – a charity devoted to supporting children and their families affected by Childhood Heart Disease and funding much-needed research. The HeartKids Combo varies between the RFG brands and include:
• Donut King: A regular coffee and heart donut
• Michel’s Patisserie: A small coffee and heart cupcake or heart lamington
• Brumby’s Bakeries: A sandwich loaf and four heart cupcakes
• Brumby’s Go!: A regular coffee and heart slice
• bb’s cafe: A small coffee and heart muffin
• Big Dad’s Pies: A pie and heart lamington
HeartKids is Australia’s only charity solely focussed on the needs of children and their families affected by Childhood Heart Disease (CHD)
“Awareness of CHD has been one of our greatest challenges”, HeartKids Australia CEO, Mr McWhannell said.
“People and even governments are unaware CHD is the most common birth abnormality and greatest killer of young Australians. Most people think it’s cancer, yet Childhood Heart Disease takes twice as many lives and more than all other childhood diseases combined”.
RFG’s sponsorship gives HeartKids a fantastic boost towards providing full-time family support to heart kids and their families across the country. Presently our resources only allow for part-time Family Support Coordinators in each of the major children’s hospitals and as a result many families, especially those in regional Australia, receive very little if any support.
Mr McWhannell said that RFG’s support will also help HeartKids advocate for more research in to the causes of CHD, including directly-funded research projects.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support for the HeartKids cause from the whole RFG ‘family’ of corporate management, franchisees and staff”, Mr McWhannell said.
“All 1100 stores are displaying donation boxes and brochures on their counters to help assist raise awareness and financial support for the joint initiative. It’s marvellous.”
“They have made the future brighter for thousands of HeartKids and their families across Australia.”
“We extend a heartfelt thanks to RFG and all the franchisees for this generous and significant level of support.”
Meet Josh, the 1-in-50,000 boy whose heart skips a beat
ELEVEN-MONTH-OLD Josh Martin cries when he sees adults dressed in white.
They are a reminder of the many major operations he has endured in his short life – including a one-in-50,000 procedure to insert a pacemaker into his tiny chest.
Josh was born with a congenital heart disease.
The Hocking baby had two rare abnormalities, one in his arteries and the other in his left ventricle, which stopped half of his heart from working.
At eight weeks old Josh had his first open-heart operation – a four-hour ordeal at Princess Margaret Hospital to increase the amount of oxygen reaching his lungs.
“I felt so helpless,” Josh’s mother, Jodi, told The Sunday Times. “Josh was taken to intensive care after the surgery and he just looked so tiny. He was covered in wires and tubes and only machines were keeping him alive.
Josh went home six days after the operation but, Mrs Martin said, he was in a lot of pain. “It felt like I had a newborn again,” she said. “He didn’t like to be touched or even looked at by strangers. Every time he coughed, yawned or hiccupped he would be in tears.”
In February, PMH pediatric cardiologist Luigi D’Orsogna found Josh’s heart was missing every second beat. It had a blockage that was putting Josh’s life at risk by restricting blood flow.
Dr D’Orsogna fitted Josh with a pacemaker – an operation that only one in 50,000 babies needs. The pacemaker helped Josh’s heart beat if it dropped below 60 beats a minute.
Josh had a second open- heart operation in May.
This time doctors completely reworked the “plumbing” in and around his heart. After the six-hour operation, a potentially-fatal blood clot formed.
Mrs Martin and husband, Neal, thought they were going to lose Josh.
“It was like I was having an outer-body experience,” Mrs Martin said.
The clot was removed and Josh is recovering well, getting stronger.
Heartkids WA is asking West Australians to hold morning or afternoon teas to raise money for children like Josh.
To find out more click here to go to the Cuppa for HeartKids website.
Cuppa for HeartKids is on again!
Please visit www.cuppaforheartkids.org.au to register and learn more about this great, fun activity.
You will also find lots of downloadable resources to make your event a special one, along with numerous celebrities who have endorsed the campaign and provided their favourite recipe for you to taste.
Dilmah Tea has kindly donated the tea samples that are included in the registration packs.
Have fun and we thank you very much for your support.
“Heart of Gold’ HeartKids WA Ball
“Heart of Gold” HeartKids WA Ball
“Heart of Gold” HeartKids WA Ball
Astral Ballroom – Burswood.
Go with your Heart-Ningaloo Kayak
Hello, my name is Bill Cuthbert. From July 9 -12 this year I will paddle a challenging 200km from Coral Bay to Exmouth. This project ‘Go with your Heart-Ningaloo Paddle,’ seeks to increase community understanding of the charity organisation HeartKids WA and raise funds for their work. In 2008 I lost my nephew, Louis to a heart condition when he was only 8 months old. This was a very difficult time.
Heart disease accounts for more than 35% of all childhood deaths in Australia, making it the leading cause of death among our children. Six babies every day across Australia are born with heart disease. HeartKids WA helped Louis’ parents Dirima and Joe and sister Hazel in their time of need. During Louis’ life they were able to share their anxieties with other HeartKids parents who experienced firsthand the challenges of raising a child with a heart defect. They also benefited enormously from the group’s support after Louis’ passing.
Now, Louis’ family and I would like to give something back. With your help we can make a difference. Our goal is to raise $10,000+ for HeartKids WA so they can help others facing Childhood Heart Disease. Someone close to you may even benefit from this help.
Go with your Heart – Ningaloo Kayak
A HeartKids WA event
Coral Bay to Exmouth 200km kayak expedition
Friday 9 July – Monday 12 July 2010
This year HeartKids WA launches the first annual Go with your Heart – Ningaloo Kayak event.
The event held from 9 July – 12 July 2010 will see local kayak enthusiast Bill Cuthbert embark on the 200 km paddle from Coral Bay to Exmouth to raise funds and build community support for the work of HeartKids WA.
The kayak trail takes four days to complete, starting off at the Coral Bay foreshore and finishing up at the Exmouth marina.
We invite you to partner with us in making this community event a success for HeartKids WA by means of event sponsorship. A unique event, we endeavour to see Go with you Heart – Ningaloo Kayak become an annual event on Western Australia’s coastline.
Contact Bill Cuthbert at HeartKids WA to discuss sponsorship opportunities and get involved. ‘
Bill Cuthbert: 0430 511 799 |
Belinda Frank: 9340 7996 |
Heart Conditions - Detailed information for parents
Coffee and Chat Mornings
This is an opportunity to share knowledge, hints & tips, stories and draw strength and encouragement from people in similar situations, over a cup of tea or coffee. There are plenty of toys and room to play for the children.When no additional meetings are planned for the quarter or
If you are not able to get to the Kalparrin mornings but are needing
support, please feel free to contact the Family Support Coordinator,
Cecilia Donovan, either at the office or on mobile 0417 417 203.
Read all about Kids Heart Research DNA Bank
Kids Heart Research DNA Bank. An initiative to help understand the cause of congenital heart disease.