Lee Running the City Bay for HeartKids
The Stirling father of three, 51, has entered the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run an impressive 33 times and cites his son’s heart condition, and other children with heart disease, as his ultimate inspiration. “If you are fit and healthy you’ve got to appreciate that because there are some people that are unable to do the full exercise,’‘ he said. His son Glynn, 19, has undergone open heart surgery three times since he was born and is currently recovering from a recent 7-hour operation.
As the board director of HeatKids Australia, Mr Morgan will join 20 to 50 employees, families and supporters at this year’s event. By entering a large team for the September 21 fun run, Mr Morgan hopes to raise awareness about childhood heart disease, a condition that is considered the greatest killer of children under five in Australia. Funds raised from their run will assist the support for families of Heart Children who are often unable or find it difficult to run themselves. “What we’re doing as a team is we’re running for kids who can’t run,’‘ he said. However, the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run wasn’t always all about the kids for Mr Morgan, who has raced in every event since 1974 expect one. “I was pretty competitive in the early days,’‘ he said. “I used to take it super seriously and over the years I’ve just kept it up for myself and for the kids.’‘
His fastest time was 41.01minutes in 1986 when he finished 38th, followed by more than 10,000 other runners. Last year he made his best time in 10 years, which he says is thanks to morning routine. “The only way to keep fit is to have exercise every day,’‘ he said. ``I’ve only missed eight mornings so far this year.’‘ And with no plans to end his Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run commitment, Mr Morgan said he will only give up ``when my knees give out on me’‘.
Race director Joe Stevens praised the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run for promoting the benefits of health and fitness. “Our aims are, of course, to encourage people to get out there for several reasons,’‘ he said. “One to improve health and fitness and to help establish a pattern of physical exercise with the City-Bay becoming the ultimate goal.’‘
The Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run registrations were launched last week with a record number of feet heading in the right direction. “We’re looking for a record year this year, we had 23,123 entries last year and we want to pass the record for participants,’‘ Mr Stevens said. So far entries have exceeded last year’s number with substantial numbers already entered in the first week.
So why don’t you join them – the entry form is on Page 62 or you can find it by logging on to adelaidenow.com.au
LEE Morgan might be a bit slower on the track these days but his motivation continues to out-run his fellow participants.
City Bay Fun Run
- Sunday 21st September
1) Participants and observers in general (anybody!) will be able to support HeartKids by accessing http://www.everydayhero.com.au/HeartKids_SA to start pledging donations to us for the City Bay.
2) Anybody participating can make their own ‘HERO’ page on http://www.everydayhero.com.au and start getting their friends etc. to sponsor them for the run with the proceeds coming to HeartKids SA.
3) Walkers can join a group of HeartKids parents and friends who will be doing the 3km walk as a group as an awareness activity. Contact HeartKids on 0406 165 111 or email to register your interest.
Check out http://www.city-bay.org.au for more information about the City Bay Fun Run.
Be a Hero for HeartKids in 2008!
IKEA MOVIE NIGHT
IKEA Movie Night
IKEA would like to hold a Movie Night for HeartKids of SA families and their own staff. This evening will also be the launch of the partnership between IKEA and HeartKids of SA. Come and join us to see:
‘GET SMART’
on Sunday 29th June
at Greater Union Cinema on Hindley Street, City.
Cost: FREE to all HeartKids of SA Members and their IMMEDIATE family. $10 per person for friends and extended family. Please see attached flyer for details. I hope to see lots of HKSA members there. It should be a great night, and the first of hopefully many generous occasions hosted for our families by IKEA.
Latest Update - HKSA’s Heather Round crowned Australia’s ‘Mother of the Year’
MOTHER-of-six Heather Round not only looks after her own children but also helps the families of children with congenital heart disease.
On Thursday 8 May, at a lavish presentation in Sydney, Mrs Round, 35, was named Barnardos’ Australian Mother of the Year. In 2002, she lost her son Max, a twin to Henry, 5, to Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome when he was just 13 days old. Children with the disease typically have to be treated in Melbourne. Mrs Round decided to set up an accommodation support network, Max’s Place, to support families facing the financial burden of living for up to six months in Melbourne. “We would have loved to be able to cure congenital heart failure in kids but, because we can’t do that, we thought we would help the families,” she said.
“She’s Wonderwoman,” Mr Round said. Tim said Heather was a devoted mother. “Her life is about our kids and everything else is second to that,” he said. She was nominated by her mother Judith Parkinson who said Heather always had put others first. “I think she’s great and she probably should spend more time on herself, but the kids always come first,” Mrs Parkinson said.
Photo courtesy of The Advertiser and photographer Dean Martin
Max’s Place
Max’s place are a group of three units that Heather & Tim Round have purchased in dedication to the memory of their son Max – these units are for the use of families that have to relocate to Melbourne for life giving surgery for CHD children. Max’s Place is a one bedroom apartment, with a kitchen, living and bathroom, which is located directly opposite the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The apartments are located in the Royal Park Towers and has a security entrance. They also have car parking spaces for the families staying in the apartments to use.
http://www.heartsofhope.iinet.net.au/homepage/max.html
Family Support Coordinator - Kylie Bath
I am a Pre-school/ Junior Primary teacher and most recently have been providing classroom support for children with special needs, their teachers, parents and carers. I have watched HeartKids change and grow over the last few years and am very excited to now be involved in such a special way. My 5 yr. old son Cameron is a HeartKid, has had surgery twice and is now fit and healthy (most of the time) and has just recently began school.
I will be visiting the hospital during out-patient clinics and would love to see any of you who may be there, staying on the wards, or in ICU at any time. As the FSC, I also organise coffee mornings once a fortnight at the WCH on the Play Deck, level 1. Please feel free to join us for a relaxing time with myself and other HeartKid families. Hopefully I will soon become a familiar face for you to catch up with, have a chat, a coffee and to provide support and friendship for Heartkids and their families
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Innaugral State Manager Announced for HeartKids of SA
My name is Kerry Southwell and I am thrilled to be part of the HeartKids of SA family. I have worked in the non-profit sector in Fundraising and Marketing for the last 15 years, predominantly working for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
I feel passionate about HeartKids of SA as I believe it is the ‘voice’ of our gorgeous babies and children with heart disease. Therefore, my vision for HeartKids of SA is to secure funding so that we may offer the support mechanisms needed for our babies, children and their families.
I want to ensure that HeartKids of SA programs are strong and delivered where most required. Also, I want to ensure that the needs of each family member who supports a child with heart diseases’needs are met. I would like to see more support for our families who live in rural areas as currently, about 25% of HeartKids of SA members live in country South Australia. Other areas that will be addressed are: a) more support for our teenagers b) obtain funding for more support to our babies, children and families who have to travel to Melbourne. (HeartKids WA attract annual state government funding initially for this reason.) I also plan to implement a media campaign and to visit service clubs and business networks to assist in lifting the profile of HeartKids of SA.
Our hard working Fundraising Committee is organising a Quiz Night in May, so I look forward to meeting a lot of you there!
My door is always open and I’d love to hear from you. My Mobile is 0420 363 155 or email
The Max Round Memorial Quiz Night
The Max Round Memorial Quiz Night is only $15 per head and has tables of 10, lots of prizes to be won, silent auction items, fun and games!
So organise a babysitter, pack some wine and nibbles, grab 9 friends (or join a table with other HKSA members) and come along to support HeartKids of SA.
The Max Round Memorial Trophy will be etched with the winning tables’ Team Name and put on display in the WCH Cardiology Department.
Call Cathie Turner (HKSA Secretary) on 0406 165 111 to book a table (Payment will be arranged on confirmation and seats are limited, so call now!)
ANNUAL CHARITY ZIPPA DAY TO PROMOTE CHILDHOOD HEART DISEASE
The Zippa Day’s main aim is to promote awareness of childhood heart
disease which is the greatest killer of children under the age of 5 in Australia.
See the media release here
Busking to the Beat
HeartKids is running a new school program called ‘Busking To The Beat’. Our aim is to raise awareness of the high incedence of Childhood Heart Disease (CHD) as well as raising much needed funds. Will you join us in the fun?
Click here for more information.
HeartKids Events
Coffee Mornings with Family Support Coordinator
Fortnightly on Tuesday’s 10am – 12am at the WCH fantastic Play Deck! Upcoming dates:
July 8th & 22nd
August 12th & 26th
Sept. 9th & 23rd
HeartKids Northern Playgroup Prospect
HeartKids Playgroup for children with Congenital or Acquired Heart Disease continues in 2008.
10am – 12 pm every Thursday morning during school terms. Siblings welcome too!
HeartKids Southern Playgroup Marion
HeartKids SA will be starting a playgroup for our Southern members Tuesday mornings from 10 – 12pm, starting on Tuesday July 22nd.
Located at the Marion Church of Christ, cnr. of Marion Rd and Alawoona Ave. at Mitchel Park, just up from Harvey Norman. There’s a great room with play equipment, an outdoor enclosed toddler playground and a cafe! Please let us know asap if you would like to join.
For more information contact Lisa Guy on 0419802502
Heart Teens Pizza ‘Showdown’
Saturday July 19th
If you are a Heart Teen we have organised a great night of fun and food at the Largs Bay Sailing Club from 6 – 10pm. There will be some famous football, media and basketball stars there to help you all have a great time.
Bookings ESSENTIAL
Please call Kylie on 0424 505 833
HeartKids Parents Dinner
August 16th – Details posted shortly
HeartKids of SA Annual General Meeting
TBA
September 21st 2008 – City to Bay Fun Run
If you are walking or running the City to Bay, we’d love to hear about it. We are trying to organise a walking group to walk together for an awareness opportunity. We’d LOVE to see as many of you as we can get walking togethe! Please contact
30 November 2008 – Christmas Picnic
HeartKids SA Newsletters
HeartKids News – Winter 2008
HeartKids News – Autumn 2008
HeartKids News – Summer 2007
HeartKids News – Spring 2007
HeartKids News – Winter 2007
HeartKids News – Autumn 2007
Read all about Kids Heart Research DNA Bank
Kids Heart Research DNA Bank. An initiative to help understand the cause of congenital heart disease.