**Natalie's Fundraising Page**

I'll hit the pavement for you!

You just have to sponsor me!

Wahoo!

Hi Everyone! Heart problems have been a dark issue in our family and I want to do all I can for the future generations of the Coffin's. This is something I feel quite passionately about and I feel lucky to have the chance to raise some money for a really good charity.

I am going to run the Auckland Half-Marathon (21km) and I am looking for sponsors.

Having a good cause to race for will also keep me motivated to keep training and running towards my goal.

Each day 16 New Zealanders die as a result of coronary heart disease. That's one person every 90 minutes. It is the leading cause of death in New Zealand and causes 40% of all the deaths annually in the country - making it more deadly than all forms of cancer.

The sad thing is that many of these deaths are preventable. New research shows that young adults in their 20s and 30s are being admitted to hospital for heart attacks more than ever before. Much of this change is due to unhealthy lifestyles - poor eating habits, lack of physical activity and being a smoker.

The good news is that many risk factors for heart disease are preventable, if people make healthy lifestyle choices. Something to think about when I start to swerve my shopping trolley down the naughty aisles in the supermarket or consider that next glass of wine!

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. This money goes towards research and rehab as well as education programmes. I think this is so important - education is our next generations greatest protection.

I'll do all the hard work (train for and complete the event) and all you have to do is sponsor me so that we can help save the hearts of New Zealanders.

So please help me today! And pass it on to your family and friends! Even a couple of dollars will make a difference - it all adds up. Maybe you could dontate what you would normally spend on your unhealthy vice today!!

Thank you - much love to you all!

Natalie xx