A heart for the kids

Staff, Rachelle williams and Bec Daly, Denise Ryal, Maria Gray,Ami Gray , Perella Graham and Sandra Battifora 96799

By LACHLAN MOORHEAD

All the colours of the rainbow will hopefully shine on the upcoming Heart Kids Fun Run to take place in Emerald.
The run, to be held at Cardinia Reservoir Park in Emerald and organised for Hoffy’s Burpee Challenge 2013 for Heart Kids, will raise money for children and their families who have been affected by childhood heart disease.
Employees and members of the Fighting Fit gym in Pakenham will be participating in the Rainbow Fun Run on Sunday 21 April. Rachelle, service manager at Fighting Fit, said employees and members of the gym had wanted to be involved in the run for years and had now organised a team of more than 20 participants.
“Everyone here wants to get involved,” Rachelle said.
“We have four employees doing it and the rest are members, around 25 in total.”
The number of Fighting Fit members, who are participating in the run, is likely to increase as the event nears.
Rachelle said the enthusiasm from the members had been inspiring.
“A lot of members came to us,” she said.
“(Because) it’s for children and they can’t help themselves.”
Thousands of children and their families are affected by childhood heart disease. One in every 100 child is born with a heart condition – that’s six a day, one every four hours or 2015 a year and the number continues to rise.
Participants can choose to run either 5km or 10km in the event for a $25 entry fee, of which the proceeds go to Heart Kids.
“We’ve always wanted to do more,” Rachelle said.
Now they are.