Heart ride meets $1m fundraising goal
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Dargaville & Districts
Kiwis have generous hearts having helped the National Heart Foundation's Great Heart Ride fundraiser reach its $1 million dollar target just three days into its 14 day tour of New Zealand.
Norman Sharpe, medical director for the foundation, says the ride has been the most successful fundraising event in the foundation's last 40 years.
NHF marketing and communications manager Bruce Waldin says that while the original target was $1m its clear that this event is going to raise a lot more for a good cause.
The Great Heart Ride has 25 top cardiologists swapping their white coats for bike suits as they travel the length of the country from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
Funds will be used to help establish a research centre and employ a professor of cardiovascular heart health at the University of Auckland, while also raising heart health awareness.
The news was announced when the riders arrived in Dargaville just after midday today.
The riders had just finished a 106.5 km journey from Rawene situated on the southern side of the Hokianga in Northland; riders were then greeted with boxes of Kumara - a heart healthy food- by local grower Andre Debruin.
Food service caterer Pip Duncan from vegetables.co.nz says the troupes will enjoy a much deserved baked kumara with madras curry sauce and trim pork dinner tonight.
The cyclists will stay-over in Matakohe tonight before heading to Auckland tomorrow.
One of the riders, Jerry Wilkins an associate professor of cardiology at Otago University, says heart disease is by far the most common health problem New Zealanders face today.
"You have a 2-1 chance of dying from heart or stroke disease compared to cancer."
Mr Wilkins says that although technological advances have meant that as a society we are now very good at extending the lives of those with cardiovascular disease we're not so good at preventing the problem.
"A Health professional's biggest concern right now is the increase in the numbers of young people developing coronary disease.
"Our impression is that the number of young people developing coronary disease is on the increase."
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."
The riders pay all their own expenses and every cent raised will go directly towards setting up a research hub at the university.
Money donated will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to the generosity of The Douglas Trust.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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