By TANIA PHILLIPS
THIS Valentine’s Day, Australians are encouraged to show their heart by helping mend a broken one, as part of HeartKids national Sweetheart Day.
The charity’s annual fund-raising event helps support families affected by childhood heart disease.
And in 2016, Shane Jacobson, one of Australia’s most loveable actors and comedians, is showing his soft side and spreading the word as the official Sweetheart Day ambassador.
Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with childhood heart disease and every week, four will die.
It is the single biggest cause of death of children under the age of one and is a lifelong disease with no known cure.
On 14 February, HeartKids is turning Valentine’s Day into Sweetheart Day and giving all Australians the opportunity to divert money traditionally spent on Valentine’s Day presents into a tangible donation that will help kids in need.
They are inviting “sweethearts“ of all ages to show their love by purchasing a card or gift from www.sweetheartday.org.au.
The purchase will result in a direct donation to help the national charity provide support, research, advocacy and awareness into childhood heart disease.
According to Jacobson, it is an important cause.
“Whether you are a parent or not, to learn that so many children are born with congenital heart disease so soon after birth is heart-wrenching,” he said.
“Most children will require open heart surgery, sometimes within days of being born, and once they’ve had a repair on their heart, they are likely to require ongoing surgeries throughout their life.”
Childhood heart disease is not a single condition; it includes a wide range of heart defects, which a child is born with or develops in childhood as a result of other illnesses. In some cases, it will require major heart surgery, while for others it will remain undiagnosed until adolescence or adulthood.
“With eight babies born with a heart defect in Australia every day, Sweetheart Day is a genuine opportunity to raise funds for childhood heart disease, including funding for life-saving research and desperately needed family support during surgeries and treatments. The purchase of a Sweetheart Day gift really can help mend a broken heart,” HeartKids Australia CEO Jayne Blake said.
Families of babies born with heart defects endure enormous emotional and financial stress, and the news is often received without warning. Having surgery is not a cure. Children with congenital heart disease will face unique challenges for the rest of their lives and for many, this will include ongoing medical treatment and repeated heart surgeries.
“Unfortunately, this is a disease for life, once a heart kid, always a heart kid,” Jacobson said. “We pray for the good stories and support HeartKids in helping those facing the tough times.”
For more information about HeartKids Sweetheart Day 2016 or to make a donation or purchase a gift, visit www.sweetheartday.org.au.
