Marathon runners help save lives

BY WENDY PARKIN
Clovelly’s Hannah White completed the 2008 Flora London Marathon together with 11 Aussie Heart Foundation runners raising over $100,000.

White joined 35,000 others for a 42.2km stretch of London streets past such landmarks as Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, completing the race in 4:07:36 minutes and raising almost $15,000.
‘I feel like I have completed the ultimate challenge. The London Marathon is such an iconic event and being part of it was like a dream come true for me,’ she said.

Two out of three Australian families are affected by heart disease. White’s 20-year-old brother has a pacemaker and is a paraplegic due to complications during heart surgery when he was 11. Her mother had a valve replaced last year.
‘I’m very passionate about raising funds for the Heart Foundation so they can continue to help people like my brother and mother and save more lives from cardiovascular disease,’ White said.

The Heart Foundation works to reduce lifestyle debilitation from living with heart disease, stroke and blood vessel disease. Funds are also used for cardiovascular research, support for health professionals and to promote exercise and healthy eating.

NSW Heart Foundation CEO Tony Thirwell congratulated the Australian team. ‘It’s vitally important that the Heart Foundation, through our fundraising supporters, is involved in events like the Flora London Marathon to help us spread our message about the benefits of being physically active,’ he said.

Heart Week will be held from May 4 to 10. The Jump Rope for Heart Program will celebrate its 25th birthday by going for the Guinness World Record. Primary school children across Australia who register will skip together at the same time for 3 minutes to attempt to break the record of 7,632 people skipping in unison.

For events during Heart Week or to donate go to www.heartfoundation.org.au