Help prevent heart disease

Photo: FIONA GOODALL

HEALTHY HEARTS: Karen Downey and her husband Patrick will be collecting money for the Heart Foundation with their dog Ralphie on Friday to help raise awareness of heart disease in New Zealand.

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Just two weeks before the birth of her first child, Karen Downey's father died.

After suffering a massive heart attack, he spent a week in hospital but never recovered.

Thirty years on, Mrs Downey and her husband Patrick are doing what they can to stay around for their future grandchildren.

"It's still painful to think about, knowing it could have been prevented," Mrs Downey says.

The Glendowie residents will be collecting for the Heart Foundation's National Street Appeal Collection Day on Friday as part of the annual appeal week.

"So many people have been affected by heart disease," Mr Downey says.

The couple believe in a healthy lifestyle and regular medical check-ups to ensure they have strong healthy hearts.

Mr Downey says there is no warning with heart disease.

"It just creeps up on you. It's called the silent killer."

Now in her 60s, Mrs Downey is getting closer to the age that her father was when he died.

"It's 30 years ago this year that dad died. It happened on Valentines Day, that day never meant the same again."

The Heart Foundation's aim this year is to highlight the fact that cardiovascular disease is tearing New Zealand families apart unnecessarily and prematurely.

Heart disease and stroke accounts for 40 percent of all deaths in New Zealand every year.

The foundation needs to raise more than $300,000 in the appeal in order to carry on vital research, promote healthy lifestyles and advance cardiac rehabilitation.

Mr and Mrs Downey believe the best defence against heart disease is prevention.

"We want to encourage people to take care of their heart not only for themselves but for their families as well," Mrs Downey says.

The Downeys, with their dog Ralphie, will be collecting for the second year in a row in St Heliers Bay village on Friday from 10am to noon.

The foundation is still looking for collectors. If you can spare a few hours to help this Friday call Liz at the Heart Foundation on 526-8427.

- © Fairfax NZ News