HeartKids, Australia’s only charity dedicated to supporting children, teens, and adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD), has partnered with Chain Reaction Foundation to launch the inaugural Heartbeats4HeartKids challenge.
Leading the campaign for this inclusive challenge is former Australian Ninja Warrior and current member of the Australian Ninja Foundation, Sarah Blackmore who has a niece living with CHD and is calling on “everyone to get active and participate regardless of their fitness level”. All money raised will be donated to HeartKids to support families impacted by CHD, one of the leading causes of death of Australian babies.
Taking place throughout the month of May, the Heartbeats4HeartKids Challenge invites people from all walks of life, especially those involved in sports and fitness, to raise their heartbeat through a running, walking, or riding challenge. The distance can vary or be compared to an equivalent challenge, such as climbing a mountain, or meeting personal best, by clocking a specific number of kilometres throughout the month.
To join the challenge, individuals or teams simply sign up and complete their profile, set a fundraising and distance goal. Participants can register individually or as a team to fundraise for HeartKids. During the month, participants can record any of their distance-based activities (walking, running, or cycling), which are all equalised within a points system. They can also connect their Strava, FitBit, or Map My Fitness accounts to their profile page, or log their activity manually through the Heartbeats4HeartKids website.
According to HeartKids CEO, Lesley Jordan, The Heartbeat4HeartKids Challenge is an excellent team building opportunity for companies looking to support their employees’ health and wellbeing, create a sense of community and team spirit, and foster staff engagement.
“By participating, companies can also enhance their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs by funding essential HeartKids programs such as providing food or petrol vouchers to help a family while their child is in hospital, contribute to counselling programs that provide necessary support to families who are struggling emotionally to cope with their child’s condition, or subsidise families with financial assistance for a week during challenging times.”
The event is designed to encourage physical activity while raising funds for a great cause, making it a win-win for participants. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or new to fitness, the Heartbeats4HeartKids challenge provides an excellent opportunity to set goals or achieve a personal best for yourself while making a difference to the lives of children with CHD and their families. Every step, every kilometre, and every dollar raised will make a real difference.
Join us in supporting HeartKids by raising your heartbeat this month. Take the challenge and sign up today: heartbeats4heartkids.com.au. Remember, the more you sweat, the more they get!