WE SUPPORT KIDS, TEENS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES@HEART
WE PROVIDE PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
WE FUND EQUIPMENT
WE EDUCATE
WE INFORM
WE FUND RESEARCH
WE LISTEN, WE LEARN, WE ACT
WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

@Heart, we know what life is like living with a childhood heart condition.  We have been providing support services to children with heart conditions and their families since 1984.

The needs of those with a childhood heart condition are different from the needs of those who acquire heart disease later in life.  Whilst there are other organisations that focus on promoting healthy living and the prevention of heart disease acquired through lifestyle choice, @Heart’s focus is on those who are living with a childhood heart condition that has existed from conception or as a result of rheumatic fever, cardiomyopathy, or Kawasaki disease.  We are the only organisation in New Zealand dedicated to supporting all those affected by a childhood heart condition.

@Heart primary goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with childhood heart conditions. Our mission is to provide life long support for all affected by the world's most common birth defect or heart disease acquired during childhood.

We're here to help every step of the heart journey - from when it is diagnosed through childhood, the teenage years and into adulthood.

Our practical and emotional support is vital for those affected, helping them cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a childhood heart condition.

@Heart is registered with the Charities Commission, registration number: CC20102.

Scars are for Fighters Awareness Campaign

This year, we are privileged to have well-respected rugby legend Tana Umaga starring together with heart kids Johnny Grimstone and Georgia Delmonte in our Scars are for Fighters Awareness Campaign.

Our heart kids show tremendous strength, fighting spirit and resilience, much like Tana has shown throughout his rugby career. His presence in the @Heart Awareness Campaign has helped us tremendously in raising awareness of the scale of childhood heart disease in New Zealand.  We are extremely grateful to Tana for his time and wonderful support in helping our heart kids fight their battle with childhood heart conditions.

The Awareness Campaign started on 5th August.  It ran on billboards, radio, our website and our Facebook page. Heart families and @Heart were profiled in national media such as the Good Morning show on TV One, the NZ Herald,  and AdMedia as well as in many local dailies and weeklies.

During Awareness month, many activities took place in different parts of the country including the Heart Stopper Challenge in Auckland’s Takapuna, memorial services for our heart kids who have lost their battle, an online appeal, and a national street appeal.

The national street appeal held on Friday 10th August saw hundreds of volunteers shaking their buckets in shopping centres and on street corners all over the country. In recent years, many charities have struggled to reach street appeal targets as much of New Zealand has become a cashless society. Kiwis have embraced plastic as their favoured method of payment, and are generally leading a much more ‘online’ lifestyle.

In the face of this, @Heart trialled an online street appeal this year at www.scarsareforfighters.co.nz with great success. We are excited about further developing the potential of this new fundraising pathway. Everyday Hero were instrumental in helping us develop the appeals (direct giving) side of the site, as well as offering fantastic support as we went through the building process, and  for this we are hugely grateful. They have also helped us extend the campaign further with the inclusion of a Donate Now tab on our Facebook page.

We have received much positive feedback showing that this was the strongest and most well-received Awareness Campaign that we have produced in some years.  Scars are for Fighters could not have come about without the tireless help and expertise of many – (Georgia’s dad) Warwick Delmonte, Quent Pfizter and the talented creative team at Zephyr WPD, advertising guru Greg Eichmann who led us to Zephyr and offered much support and insight during the process, Stephen Roke of Stephen Roke photography and Glenda Hughes.

Our thanks also go to Georgia’s mum Sarah, Johnny’s mum and dad Kelly and Chris for their wonderful help; Roadside Attractions, APN Outdoor, AdMedia, Crew News Magazine and Oliver Lee Publishing for advertising space; Kalamazoo for printing support; Telecom Foundation and the many volunteers for collecting on the streets for us; and the generosity of donors and supporters that makes our work possible. Thank you to all of you from the bottom of our hearts.

In 1980, Linda Davies and Michelle Mann met in Greenlane* Hospital. Their newborn babies were suffering from major heart problems, and sadly both children died in 1981. From their experiences, Linda and Michelle realised there was very little written information for parents of a heart child and they felt a book was needed.

 When they left hospital Linda and Michelle spent a great deal of time finding information and surveying other families with a heart child. In 1983 the book "Heart Children" was published and made available free to parents of children who had a heart condition.

While they had set out only with the intention of writing a book, Linda and Michelle soon found themselves acting in a much needed support role to other families "going through" Greenlane Hospital. Over a period of time, as families returned to their own part of New Zealand, a network of support groups was established.

This network was co-ordinated by the Auckland group who formalised themselves as Heart Children Incorporated in 1984. The organisation continued to grow and in August 1994 a national board was elected. A new constitution was adopted in 1995 and the organisation renamed Heart Children New Zealand Inc.

Visit our Contact Info for your nearest group.

Left: Michelle Mann and Linda Davies,founders of Heart Children and co-authors of the book cutting the cake at the 15 year celebration of Heart Children New Zealand in Auckland.

*In December 2003, the Paediatric Cardiac Unit was relocated from Greenlane Hospital to Ward 23B at Starship Children's Hospital as part of the Auckland District Health Board's health delivery plan and the building of the new Auckland Hospital. @Heart’s work continues on in its support to families in the same way as when the PCU was housed at Greenlane Hospital.

Heart Children are defined as those who are born with a Congenital Heart Disease or who acquire a heart condition before the age of 18.

Constitution

Board Nomination Form 2013

Roles & Responsibility of a Board Member 2013

Map NI  Regions & Towns

@Heart Inc Annual Report 2011

 The @Heart Annual Report 2011 covers the financial year from 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011. This Annual Report is extra special because it is our first Annual Report under our new brand @Heart, produced by award-winning design company gardyneHOLT. 

We are extremely grateful for gardyneHOLT’s generous donation of time, expertise and resources to design this beautiful publication for us.  It has been a real pleasure to work with Fraser Gardyne, partner of the firm, and his talented team.

Paper copies are available on request by email to:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or mail to @Heart, PO Box 108 034, Symonds Street, Auckland 1150.

@Heart's 2010-13 Strategic Plan focuses on the following areas of importance:

Awareness, Membership, Funding, A Unified Organisation and Credibility 

Mission  

"@Heart provides lifelong support for all those affected by the world's most common birth defect and heart disease acquired during childhood".

Aims

The chief objective of @Heart is to provide the parent and families of children with congenital heart conditions the appropriate and timely support they need. @Heart aims to:

• reduce the suffering, stress and premature death of these children and the emotional strain on their families;

• reduce the financial burden and stress placed on families taking a child to Starship Children’s Hospital;

• encourage, develop and implement programmes for a child's rehabilitation following surgery;

• promote awareness and conduct and publish research about children with heart conditions.

• It is also responsible for the publication and distribution of the practical handbook for parents.
  

@Heart Values

• Heart children and their families first

• Education and empowerment

• Passionate and professional

• Respect with compassion

• Integrity at all times

• Committed to success

Stay up-to-date with @Heart news

The ‘Heartline’ newsletter gives you an update of @Heart news, events and ways to get involved. You can download and read our latest copy below.