Camp Teen Beat 2011, Oct 10th – 14th, Long Bay, Auckland

A national camp for teens aged 13 to 17 with heart conditions, Camp Teen Beat aims to give heart teens the opportunity to participate in outdoor pursuit activities in a safe, non-competitive environment.

Are you up for the Challenge?

Take the Heart Stopper Challenge to help raise funds for @Heart – the organisation that supports heart kids through life.

Every week, 12 babies are born in NZ with a heart defect.  Children with heart defects often have their chest cavity filled with an icy slush to reduce the heart’s oxygen requirement during open-heart surgery.  That’s the inspiration for this chilly challenge.

The Challenge

A team of 4 to 6 get together, choose a dress theme (the whackier the better) & plunge into an icy pool for 5 minutes.

The Inspiration

Twelve babies are born every week with a heart defect in New Zealand. For many of these children medical intervention is their only chance of survival. This year alone, 450 open heart surgeries will be conducted on Kiwi children. During surgery the child is cooled down in icy slush to slow the metabolism. That's the inspiration for this unique event.

Photos from Wanganui's Heart Stopper Challenge in Majestic Square

Photos from Hawkes Bay's Heart Stopper Challenge at Taylors Pool Service

Two thousand Bay of Plenty children jumped, jived and smiled simultaneously for Heart Kids Week in May! That's two thousand focused faces, four thousand feet jiving and eight thousand limbs pumping – photo opportunities galore! These kids were all participating in Heart Children New Zealand's Heart Jam - the Bay's largest aerobic class.

Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club are long-time supporters of Heart Children NZ. Past years have included successful and popular Cricket Weeks held in February, featuring interclub matcjhes, a celebrity match and an evening gala dinner.

This year Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club were back again in 2009 with something totally different: a fast, fun and unique form of entertainment:

Photos from Waikato's Heart Stopper Challenge at Mega Mitre 10, featuring Mils Muliaina

Saturday 4 April 2009

The annual Heart Children New Zealand Gala Dinner was held on the 4th of April 2009 at the delightful Stamford Plaza, raising in excess of $35,000.

Heart Children New Zealand extends its thanks to every who contributed, and helped to make the eveing so successful, in every respect.

2-12 July 2009

North Shore Events Centre & ASB Stadium

Heart Children New Zealand was excited to be the nominated charity of the 2009 FIBA Under 19 World Championships. What an awesome event to have been involved with here in New Zealand.

Photos from Coromandel's Heart Stopper Challenge at Waiomu Beach

Appeal Week 2009

Sunday 24 - Saturday 30 May 2009

@Heart's (formerly Heart Children New Zealand) Annual 2009 Appeal Week (previously known as
Heart Kids Week) ran from 24-30 May.

It was a fabulous week people everywhere were talking about Heart Children New Zealand.  We had awesome media coverage through the papers; there were billboards of Connor around the country; our kids were talking about their heart conditions on the radio; we had great exposure with our television commercial - all in all an overwhelming feeling that people are beginning to know that Heart Children New Zealand exists, and that we are here to support children and families throughout the country.

Money raised is still coming in, but we are looking like we will raise a similar amount to 2008, which is fantastic in the current climate!

Sunday 8 November (Auckland) & Thursday 27 November (Taupo) 2008

The Bunnings Heart Kids Toddler Cycle Thon was an opportunity for children at even a young age to learn the benefit of getting out doing exercise, having fun, getting involved and helping kids perhaps not so fortunate as themselves. Kids helping kids.

Heart Childrens Week 2008 – A Huge Success

A donation in a bucket at Heart Children's National Street Appeal, a ribbon worn, a cold plunge in the Heart Stopper Challenge, a gift of time or services - whatever the contribution and no matter the size, each gesture combined with thousands of others to make this year's Heart Kids Week a huge success.

Our heart felt thanks.

"The Marine Education & Recreation Centre (MERC), in Long Bay, Auckland"

"Camp Teen Beat" is a service proudly provided by @Heart Inc.

Photos from our Camp Brave Hearts held in January 2008 at:

"Lake Taupo Christian Camp"

The Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is New Zealand’s premier cycling event, offering riders the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of individual and team challenges based around a 160km circumnavigation of Lake Taupo.

Heart Children Awareness Week is held annually at the end of May. During Awareness Week, Heart Children New Zealand members and parents, co-ordinate a variety of awareness and fundraising activities.

Heart Children New Zealand hopes to raise significant funds to provide essential services for Heart Children and their families and to develop and support a national network of family support workers. These people assist Heart Children and their families when they return home from hospital and attempt to resume their normal lives.