Fundraising walk for childhood heart disease arrives in Bunbury

Locals are being encouraged to put on their walking shoes this October as Heartkids’ annual Two Feet & a Heartbeat annual community walk arrives at Jetty Baths in Bunbury.

The fundraiser, in support of children, adults and families living with childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) is a nationwide campaign, giving communities the chance to celebrate milestones, share stories, raise awareness, and honour the lives of those cut far too short.

Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a heart condition, and many more will acquire a heart condition during childhood. About 250,000 Australians are living with CoHD, with an estimated one million Australians, including parents, carers and siblings, affected.

Liv Harvey was 20 weeks pregnant with her son, Finn, when she was told he would need open-heart surgery shortly after birth for him to survive.

“The rest of my pregnancy, and much of Finn’s first year of life, is a bit of a blur — filled with uncertainty, worry, hospital appointments and simply surviving each day as it came,” she said.

“But here we are, 4½ years later, with the most clever, kind and adventurous little boy. You would never know that he had such a tough start to life.”

This October, almost five years on, Finn and his family will be joining HeartKids and the Bunbury community in the walk for the fourth year in a row.

Liv said the event is a chance to celebrate kids who have had to deal with so much hardship in their lives.

“HeartKids have been a community of support to remind us we aren’t alone and there are other families out there going through this too. It’s a beautiful network of people,” she said.

“The walk gives us a chance to celebrate kids like Finn who are so special, and connect with other people who have shared a similar journey.”

HeartKids chief executive Samantha Glastonbury said the walk was a day when affected families and the wider community could stand together.

“Every heart has a story. Every person who walks with us is showing children, young people, adults and families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease that they are not walking this journey alone,” she said.

“Whether you are a heart kid, heart adult, heart parent, grandparent, sibling, friend, supporter, healthcare professional or someone walking in memory of a loved one, this day is for you. We invite everyone to join us as one big heart community this October. Every step honours a heart story, and every heartbeat reminds us why we walk.”

HeartKids encourages people to register for the event on its website, with registrations closing on Thursday.

The event begins at Jetty Baths for a 9am start on Sunday.