Great hearts hit $1m goal

Kiwis with generous hearts have helped the National Heart Foundation's Great Heart Ride fundraiser reach its $1 million target just three days into its 14-day tour of New Zealand.

The news was announced when the riders arrived in Dargaville at the Band Rotunda for a well-deserved lunch break last week.

Foundation medical director Norman Sharpe says the ride has been the foundation's most successful fundraising event in the last 40 years.

Foundation marketing and communications manager Bruce Waldin says the event is going to raise a lot more than its $1m target.

The Great Heart Ride has 25 cardiologists swapping white coats for bike suits as they travel the length of the country from Cape Reinga to the Bluff.

The goal is to set up a research centre and employ a professor of cardiovascular heart health at Auckland University, while raising heart health awareness.

The riders had just finished a 106.5km journey from Rawene, on the southern side of the Hokianga in Northland, when they were greeted with boxes of ku-
mara - a heart-healthy food from local grower Andre de Bruin. Food service caterer Pip Duncan served the troupes much-deserved baked kumara with madras curry sauce and trim pork last Tuesday.

The cyclists stayed the night in Matakohe before heading to Auckland last Wednesday.

Rider Jerry Wilkins, an associate professor of cardiology at Otago University, says heart disease is by far the most common health problem that New Zealanders face.

"You have a 2-1 chance of dying from heart or stroke disease compared to cancer."

Mr Wilkins says that technological advances have meant that as a society we are good at extending the lives of those with cardiovascular disease but not so good at preventing it.

"A health professional's biggest concern right now is the increase in the numbers of young people developing coronary disease."

He says inactivity is the biggest factor which leads to obesity, diabetes and then heart disease.

"The fact that people who work in this field are prepared to throw away their white coats for a day and symbolically support this cause shows how serious we are."

To donate visit www.heartracer.org.nz/rideforheart.

HEART DISEASE FACTS: Heart disease facts from the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand. •  Heart disease is the single leading cause of death for both men and women in New Zealand. •  It causes 40 percent of all deaths annually in our country – about 10,500 people each year – making it more deadly than all forms of cancer, which total 29 percent of all deaths. •  Many of the cases that result in premature death are preventable by making small changes you can reduce your chances of a heart event significantly just by eating better and exercising more and looking after yourself. •  Four times the number of women die from cardiovascular disease than from breast cancer. •  One third of young people and one third of adults in New Zealand are inactive (they either do no physical activity at all or less than 2.5 hours per week).

- © Fairfax NZ News