Janie Verwey's Fundraising Page

Taupo Autumn Challenge 2008

RealWoman Duathlon

OK, to some of you maybe I am old, when I was a kid I used to think that 25 was ancient…but here I am at 33 and on my 2nd pacemaker.

Heart disease has been in my family for many generations, my grandfather died of a heart attack at age 35, my uncle also died of a heart attack at the young age of 34, my mom has had a few angina attacks since her mid 30’s and have been on medication since and this is also my reason for being a Heart Racer.

I was born with a 2:1 heart block that was only diagnosed after my 16th birtday as there was no technology to detect this in the 1970’s. My mum told me, when I was a baby she used to hold a feather below my nose to see if I was breathing while I was asleep as she could never tell if I was still alive.

I have always been very sporty having achieved the nationals in swimming when I was 12. At high school/college I had trained even more and at 16 had a pacemaker implanted as my heart could no longer take the strain.

When the doctor diagnosed my condition my heart rate was only 15-20 beats per minute, so basically I was in a coma most of the time. That also explained why I was always tired and sleeping most of the days.

After recovering from the operation I was back on the field training to achieve the nationals in athletics, which I had done one year on. Since then I have had one new pacemaker replacement operation, that was last year.

Having always been active and doing many road races and half marathons I have set my goals to get back into my healthy routine and my aim is to do the Adidas Auckland Marathon on 2 November 2008 and every year after this one.


Each day 16 New Zealanders die as a result of coronary heart disease. That's one person every 90 minutes. And many of these deaths are premature and preventable.

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 your family and friends!

Many thanks for your support