A fun and unique fundraising event not to be missed.  Form a team of 4-6 people, dress in costume and plunge into an icy pool for 5 minutes.  Held in various locations around the country.

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

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

Photos from Coromandel's Heart Stopper Challenge at Waiomu Beach