Heidi Van Rooyen's Fundraising Page

From a very overweight girl

To a triathlete, try it, trust me you will get addicted!

To trying new and exciting things, which I would never have dreamed of doing before

Continue on my life changing journey with me and help raise money for a great cause!


As you see from my photos, I was a very overweight girl, I was classified as obese! I got a couple of scares, my uncle died from heart disease and my mother was diagnosed with a heart problem, I thought if I don't want to go the same way I better do something soon. I have also had other family members suffer and die from heart conditions.

I have become a triathlete (have upgraded my bike since this photo), have run a couple of half marathons and am now planning to do my first full marathon, and I'm terrified :-) This a Girl who 4 years ago wouldn't even run 1 metre and couldn't walk up the top of Queen st without nearly dying from asthma.

I just want to show that if someone like me can do this, anyone can if they want to!

Each day 16 New Zealanders die as a result of coronary heart disease. That’s one person every 90 minutes.

Cardiovascular disease is the single leading cause of death in New Zealand. It causes 40 percent of all deaths annually in our country - making it more deadly than all forms of cancer.

New research shows that young adults in their 20s and 30s are being admitted to hospital for heart attacks than ever before, and that this age group is dying at a faster rate than people of the same age in previous generations. Much of this change is due to unhealthy lifestyles - poor eating habits, lack of physical activity and being a smoker.

But the good news is that many risk factors for heart disease are preventable, if people make healthy lifestyle choices.

So, help me as I join the race to beat heart disease.

I’ve signed up as a Heart Racer to raise money to support The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand. By donating through my webpage you will be helping the Heart Foundation continue its vital work in research, cardiac rehabilitation, education programmes and resources.

I’ll do all the hard work (train for and complete the event), but I really need you to make a difference to the hearts of New Zealanders.

So, please could you sponsor me?

Select the "Make a donation" button below. It’s simple, fast and totally secure and the money goes directly to the Heart Foundation’s bank account.

If you live in New Zealand your donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

So please help me today! And pass it on to everyone you know!

Many thanks for your support