On Friday 10 October, I'm taking part in the 2014 Canterbury Heart Stopper Challenge - I'm going be plunging into icy water for 5 minutes to show my support for Canterbury@Heart, the organisation that supports heart kids and their families living in the Canterbury region.
Every week in New Zealand, 12 babies are born with congenital heart defects. That’s over 600 little hearts and courageous fighters each year that need your support.
Each year about 450 open heart surgeries are performed on children - some of these are on babies in their first days of life.
These little fighters face Heart Stopping Challenges
During surgery a child’s chest cavity can be filled with an icy slush to slow the heart’s oxygen requirement, giving the surgeon a longer window of operating time.
The Heart Stopper Challenge celebrates these brave children, and aims to spread awareness and provide lifelong support for those who battle congenital heart defects.
Heart Stopper Challenge funds raised will be used to support heart children and their families in local communities like Canterbury across the country.
Your part is easy - please support me in my challenge by making a donation - large or small, it all helps Canterbury@Heart, and it'll help me to make a big splash in supporting heart kids and their families through life.
Thank you!