Two Feet and a Heartbeat returns

TWO Feet and a Heartbeat is returning to the region in October, raising vital funds and awareness for HeartKids.

Torquay will host this year’s event with the four-kilometre walk taking place at Elephant Walk on October 27.

HeartKids supports and advocates for families all across Australia impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) including Lara resident Julie Habib.

Ms Habib’s son Jesse Cotter was born with three holes in his heart and underwent open heart surgery at 2.5 months old, also receiving a pacemaker.

“He thrived as a child, as a toddler, such a happy little boy, everything went really well,” Ms Habib said.

“Jesse graduated year 12 in 2008, five days later, Jesse was playing basketball with his friends and he collapsed and had a heart attack and passed away on December 1, 2008.”

Ms Habib has been involved with HeartKids since her son’s passing and does the walk each year in his memory with family and Jesse’s friends.

Ms Habib said the support she’s had from HeartKids has been wonderful and these types of events are really important to her.

“You don’t realise how many children still in this day and age die of congenital heart disease.”

HeartKids provide a number of services for children and their families including mental health support, guidance, referral services, education, practical assistance and more.

Leopold mum Monique Borch got to know the team at HeartKids when she had her daughter, Ella Kanellos who was born with heart defects and had her first surgery at three weeks old.

“When we were in hospital especially, we had so much support from HeartKids, it’s obviously a pretty dark place and we feel it’s such a good relationship.”

Ms Borch and her family are the ambassadors for this year’s event and are excited to be involved and raise awareness for the cause.

“I have lived a very sheltered life, I never really thought these sort of things happen very often with children.

“It’s so important to get the word out there that this is real life, this is someone’s life they have to live and it’s so important to have these foundations in place.

At the walk, participants can also enjoy the community market, as well as an animal farm, coffee van, sausage sizzle and more.

The event will begin at 9.30am and run until 2pm.

To register and for more information, head to twofeetheartbeat.org.au/Geelong