Thousands of walkers are set to take part in HeartKids’ annual Two Feet and a Heartbeat Walk this weekend to remember “heart angels”, children who have lost their lives to congenital heart disease (CHD). The event will take place at Burswood Park on Sunday, October 15, covering a four-kilometre route.
HeartKids, a non-profit organisation supporting those impacted by childhood heart disease, aims to raise $350,000 across its national events this year. The funds will be used to deliver in-hospital support for children living with CHD, a term for any malformation of the heart, heart valves or blood vessels present at birth.
Among the heart angels remembered is Claire Maunton, born eight weeks premature and diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at three months old. Her mother, Fran Maunton, described her as a beautiful baby with big blue eyes, but noted she never thrived due to her condition. Claire passed away at 10 months.
Fran Maunton found solace through HeartKids, which connected her with others who had similar experiences. “It was always just the recognition that other people understood what you’d been through,” she said. She will open the walk with a poem reading.
HeartKids CEO Lesley Jordan expressed gratitude for the community’s support. “It’s heart warming to witness the level of commitment and dedication our community showcases,” she said. The organisation has grown in recent years, building on the energy of families and ambassadors.
