HeartKids

In this episode of From the Heart, host Rachael chats with Emma Psaros, a 25-year-old who has grown up with congenital heart disease (CHD). Emma shares her journey of managing her heart condition while leading a balanced and full life.

Emma discusses her transition from paediatric to adult care, the importance of open communication with healthcare professionals, and the support she receives from family and friends. She highlights her strategies for managing mental health, including therapy and having a strong support system.

Emma also talks about her love for pilates and how she adapts her fitness routine to suit her needs. She offers insights on navigating the workplace with a heart condition and the importance of being upfront with employers about her health.

The conversation touches on family planning with a heart condition, emphasising the need for being proactive and informed.

Tune in for an inspiring discussion that provides valuable insights for those living with CHD or supporting someone who does. Search for From The Heart on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, or head to https://www.heartkids.org.au/podcast/.

Join the conversation!

HeartKids values your feedback, whether you've attended our Teen Camps or are a parent of a camper. Take just five minutes to share your insights in our survey. Tell us about the positive impacts of HeartKids Teen Camps—every detail counts!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XCWP23M

Save the date for Two Feet & A Heartbeat – 13 October 2024

This year, in over thirty locations nationwide our incredible HeartKids community will come together to walk to remember those living with, and the lives lost to, childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD).
We invite you to join us, and bring your family and friends as we raise awareness and advocate for the constant needs of our community.
There are two walking course options available. You’re most welcome to register to walk for 4km, remembering that each week four lives are lost to CoHD. Or to walk for 8km, reflecting on the eight newborn babies diagnosed each day.
Tickets are on sale now! https://www.twofeetheartbeat.org.au/signup

Adults: $30. Family: $75. Children: $15. Infants (under 1 year): Free.
*Events commence on the 12 October and conclude on the 27 October 2024.

For more details and to confirm the date of your Walk visit: www.twofeetheartbeat.org.au

We were back at Salesforce last Friday for another day of fun creating craft for our HeartKids!

With school holidays on, many children participated in creating beautiful pictures, roses and garlands for our HeartKids.

Thank you for another wonderful day Salesforce

Support HeartKids by purchasing a $10 ticket in the for Purpose Raffle!
🎟️ Tickets: Only $10, with 50% going directly to HeartKids!
🏆 First Prize: Worth $250k, including a car and gold bullion!
Your contribution helps make a difference. Buy your ticket today and support HeartKids! ❤️ https://www.playforpurpose.com.au/heart-kids

We are delighted to share that the 2024 Gala Ball was an incredible success, with over 700 attendees coming together to support HeartKids. It was an evening filled with generosity and hope, thanks to everyone who was involved!

Mark your calendars! Our signature event returns to the Crown Ballroom on Saturday, 24th May 2025.
Don’t miss out on what promises to be another spectacular night dedicated to raising vital funds for HeartKids.

Thank you for your continued support. ❣

Heart Kids 2025 Gala Ball | Save the date!

Amazing Achievement for HeartKids!

We are thrilled to extend our gratitude and congratulations to everyone involved with our Hero's for HeartKids campaign. This year, through your amazing participation in Hero for HeartKids, you have collectively raised an impressive $485,000!

This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the combined efforts of our local fundraisers, local businesses, and our major partners Drakes Supermarkets and Supercheap Auto.

Your incredible support has well surpassed our goal of $350,000!
Thanks to your generosity, HeartKids can continue providing essential care, tailored resources, advocacy, and community support to HeartKids and their families. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Considering a legacy gift in your will to HeartKids is a powerful way to make a lasting impact. Your generosity ensures that heart families across Australia receive vital care and support during their most challenging times. For more information and to speak with our team, please visit http://www.heartkids.org.au/get-involved/leave-a-gift-in-your-will/
Your kindness makes our mission possible. Thank you for your support.

In this episode of From the Heart, Rachael sits down with Laura Achilles, a heart adult living with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Laura, an actor in her 30s, shares her journey of growing up with CHD, moving from the UK to Australia, and navigating a new healthcare system on her own. She opens up about the challenges and triumphs of managing her mental health, dealing with grief after losing a friend, and undergoing significant surgery without her family nearby.

Laura also discusses her short film “Wild Heart,” reflecting on her experiences and preparing to share her story with the world. This rich conversation explores the complexities of adult life with CHD, offering insights and inspiration for anyone facing similar challenges.

Join us for an insightful and emotional episode that highlights resilience, personal growth, and the power of storytelling.

Listen now by going to https://www.heartkids.org.au/podcast/ or searching for From The Heart on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Huge thank you to our Major Partners Drakes Supermarkets for their ongoing support and effort of raising vital funds for HeartKids.

Drakes celebrates HeartKids fundraising milestone - Retail World Magazine Drakes has announced a milestone in its seventh year of partnership with HeartKids, reaching a total of $1 million in donations.

Thank you Salesforce team!

Salesforce recently held a special "Bring Your Kids to Work Day," and we were honored to be included!
Staff and their children participated in a generous initiative where each child brought a gift to wrap for a heart kid.
It was a wonderful occasion filled with kindness, fun and community.
A big thank you to Salesforce for bringing everyone together to create meaningful gifts for our heart kids!

We were thrilled to see one of our HeartKids enjoying the Sharks vs. Tigers game on the weekend, thanks to the generous support of Classic Sportswear 🎟️🏉
It's moments like these that bring so much joy and create lasting memories. Thank you, Classic Sportswear, for putting a big smile on a young fan's face!

🖤💛❤️Strong Hearts, Strong Mob ❤️💛🖤

There is no better time than National NAIDOC Week to officially unveil a new artwork commissioned by HeartKids, by Wiradjuri artist Paul Constable Calcott.

This inspiring and beautiful artwork, titled Strong Hearts, Strong Mob, is currently displayed in our Sydney office, and tells the story of how HeartKids connects with Indigenous communities across Australia to support those affected by childhood-onset heart disease.

HeartKids would like to thank Paul for taking the time to walk our team through the meaning of this artwork. We would also like to thank Aunty Grace Mumbler for doing the Welcome to Country at this event.

HeartKids is committed to providing culturally safe support to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with CoHD.

To find resources specifically developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, please see our website. To see more of Paul's artwork, go to www.hotpinkgoanna.com.

Support HeartKids by purchasing a $10 ticket in the Play For Purpose Raffle!
🎟️ Tickets: Only $10, with 50% going directly to HeartKids!
🏆 First Prize: Worth $250k, including a car and gold bullion!
Your contribution helps make a difference. Buy your ticket today and support HeartKids! ❤️ https://www.playforpurpose.com.au/heart-kids

Wonderful to see the support continuing to shine for our community!

Brave Anishka | A HeartKid's Story of Inspiration

At the age of 13, Anishka, who had always been a healthy and cheerful child, began experiencing tiredness and a lack of energy. Despite undergoing medication and iron supplements for over a year, her complaints persisted. In January 2023, a chest X-ray and an MRI confirmed her diagnosis of ASD.

In July 2023, Anishka underwent heart surgery to correct her ASD. Throughout her journey, she has been an immense source of strength for her family, always maintaining a smile on her face and caring for those around her, even during her hospital stay in the ICU, where she constantly checked on her younger brother, Sahir, and the whole family.

Now aged 16 Anishka started a new school this year and has keenly returned to her passion, playing tennis, and she also enjoys creative activities like knitting, crocheting, and embroidery.

The family learned about HeartKids during their hospital stay. HeartKids provided emotional support through relatable stories and offered invaluable assistance during their hospital stay. To mum, Richa, “having a smiling face around you when you're stressed is always a huge help. It feels like a great support system for somebody who is new to this and helps to know other people's experiences.” https://www.heartkids.org.au/brave-anishka-a-heartkids-story-of-inspiration/

Grab a friend and get ready for the exciting events HeartKids has planned for our amazing supporters in the coming weeks!

Mark these important dates in your calendar:

Hamilton Island Golf Day QLD - 13th July
Cardiac Family Open Day QLD - 15th August
Townsville Golf Day QLD - 16th August
Valley Thunder Run by Harley Davidson QLD - 17th August
Two Feet and a Heartbeat - 13th October

For more details visit https://www.heartkids.org.au/get-involved/events/

🖤💛❤️Today is the first day of NAIDOC Week 2024❤️💛🖤

The theme of National NAIDOC Week this year is 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud' and celebrates the unyielding spirit of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities, and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.

All week, HeartKids will be sharing resources that we've developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as participating in events both online and offline.

And don't forget - our NAIDOC Week colouring competition opens today, and is for all kids aged 15 and under. You can download colouring sheets and an entry form at https://tab.so/HKNAIDOCCC.

🎉 Hero for HeartKids: A Remarkable June! 🎉
Hero for HeartKids has once again shattered expectations this June, rallying support from over 300 fundraisers nationwide. These dedicated individuals and groups have gone above and beyond to raise crucial funds and awareness for HeartKids’ mission.
🙏 A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Major Partners:
Drakes Supermarkets for surpassing their $1,000,000 partnership milestone and for their fantastic efforts in dressing up across all their stores!
Supercheap Auto for their ongoing commitment, having raised over $500,000 over several years, and for showcasing the Batmobile at Blacktown Supercheapap Auto!
🚗 Special Highlights:
The supercars car featuring a special HeartKid design for the livery Darwin Championships.
All the amazing kids and supporters who got involved and dressed up on June 14. It was heartwarming to see our community come together!
This year, our target was set at $350,000, and we eagerly anticipate announcing just how close we’ve come to achieving this goal in the coming weeks.
🗓️ Highlight of the Month: June 14th was a big day for HeartKids, marking a significant milestone in our campaign efforts!
📰 HeartKids in the News: HeartKids has been making headlines across the country, from gracing the front page of the NT Times in the Northern Territory to featuring prominently on major news channels in other states, all across Australia!
❤️ Your Support is Heroic: Every dollar donated helps us provide vital support to children with childhood-onset heart disease and their families, offering hope and resources when they need it most.
📅 It’s Not Too Late to Contribute: As the financial year draws to a close, it’s not too late to contribute and join us in making a lasting impact. Donations can be made here: Donate • Hero for HeartKids 2024 hero4heartkids.org.au

🎨 Calling all aspiring artists! 🎨

As part of our National NAIDOC Week celebrations, HeartKids is running a colouring competition for kids aged 0-15 years! Whether you're a HeartKid, a sibling, a friend or just someone who loves to colour, it's time to bust out the art supplies and show us your true colours!

You can download an entry form and colouring sheets at https://tab.so/HKNAIDOCCC. Entries open on July 7 and close July 14. Scan or photograph your entries and email them along with your entry form to [email protected].

Good luck! We can't wait to see what you can do!

Join our host Rachael Knowles as she chats with Jeremy Richardson, an adventurous adult in his 30s living with truncus arteriosus. Jeremy leads an active life filled with travel, a passion for the snow fields, and has a family history connected to the origins of HeartKids.

Tune in to hear about Jeremy's journey from growing up in South Australia to moving overseas to pursue a videography career, filming snowboarding in Canada! He shares his experiences with multiple heart surgeries, the importance of mental health, and the pivotal role his parents played in establishing HeartKids SA.

Whether you're a heart kid, a parent, or just looking for some inspiration, Jeremy's story is a testament to living life to the fullest, no matter the challenges.

🌟Don't miss this conversation packed with insights, encouragement, and a few laughs along the way. Listen now at heartkids.org.au/podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. 🌟

Support HeartKids ❣

Thank you to everyone who has contributed in supporting precious lives and families affected by childhood onset heart disease (CoHD).

Your generosity helps us provide essential support, advocacy, and resources to those who need it most and make a significant difference in the lives of children and families facing the challenges of CoHD.

Make your donation today and join us in making a lasting impact https://hopeforheartkids.org.au/

🎙️ New Episode of From the Heart - Life, footy and supporting the HeartKids community with Jaidyn Stephenson 🎧

In this episode of "From the Heart," join our host, Rachel, for a special conversation with Jaidyn Stephenson, North Melbourne AFL Player, and dedicated HeartKids Ambassador. Rachel and Jaidyn discuss navigating his heart condition and achieving success in his AFL career. Tune in as Jaidyn shares insights into the special bond he has forged with HeartKids.

You can find this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your favorite podcasting app, or access it here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1900105/14104642-life-footy-and-supporting-the-heartkids-community-with-jaidyn-stephenson-heartkids-ambassador.mp3

Sofia's Battle Christmas Lights Display is on! 🌈🎄

If you are around, please join the family and the neighbourhood at 15 Sofa St, Marayong, and immerse yourself in the magic of festive lights, fun activities, and heartwarming moments of Christmas.

🕊 Sofia's Battle goes beyond the Christmas spirit; it's a beautiful tribute to heart angel Sofia, and an opportunity to raise funds for HeartKids. Let's come together, create lasting memories, and support a meaningful cause.

The display is now open for visitors, and from December 13th to 20th, there will be a range of exciting activities for kids and families, including raffle tickets, lucky dips, special guests (can you guess who?), and many more!

See you there! 💙

P/S: If you are online, you can still support Sofia's Battle at: https://christmas2023.heartkids.org.au/rachel-waters