I've become a heart racer

I have signed to to be a Heart Racer for the Wellington Round the Bays. It's a 7km race on the 21st Feb - 2 days before my 22nd birthday. I hope to raise $500 for the heart foundation - the money goes to funding research and awareness of Heart Disease in New Zealand - something that is very important to me.


This is straight out of my Heart Racer page page - http://www.heartracer.org.nz/LaurenSmith/

Thanks for clicking on the link and taking the time to read this.

I have become a heart racer because on 2 Dec 2010, my dad was admitted to hospital. He found out that he had recently had a massive heart attack that he shouldn't, by all reports, have survived.

He spend approximately 3 weeks in hospital and needed 5 bypasses. He had very few of the signs of a heart attack, and didn't have most of the usual risk factors like high cholesterol etc. He was finally released from hospital just in time for Christmas, but for months struggled as he had to re-learn how to breath after the operation.

Last week, he was given the all clear - that means that he's recovered from the operation and his heart is healthy. Having a heart attack has changed his live - he has lost over 30kg - and most importantly, he and my mum have started the road to getting fitter and having a healthier heart by eating better and getting more exercise.

We usually think of heart attacks happening to very unhealthy people; those who are very overweight, have high cholesterol, those who smoke. However, this isn't the rule.

Heart disease accounts for 40% of all deaths in New Zealand each year. 16 people, fathers, mothers, daughters, brothers die every day. Some people, like my dad, have no prior symptoms. Heart disease can strike anyone from elderly people to young athletes. You don't have to be a smoker to be at risk - my dad has never smoked.

Heart disease isn't something that only men need to worry about. In 2004, almost 60% MORE women died from heart disease than all of the cancers combined. Women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men.

Heart disease is something very close to my heart (pun intended) - I would really appreciate any donation you can give - no amount is too small. Your donations will save lives - without someone's donation in the past, we wouldn't have known enough to save my dad. Your donation will help to provide awareness, fund research and promote heart health in New Zealand. Your donation will help save someone else's mum or dad.

So, please please donate. If you can't donate, please at least pass this on, and take a moment to reflect on your heart's health. It could save your life.



If you would like to enter as part of our team - please feel free. The team name is "The Tweetsters" - http://www.wellingtonroundthebays.co.nz/