Shortland Street's Fundraising Page

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.

Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke & blood vessel 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.

The nature of who is affected by it is changing. New research shows that young adults in their 20s and 30s are being admitted to hospital for heart attacks more 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 the cast and crew of New Zealand's favourite serial drama join the race to beat heart disease.

Over 15 cast and crew from SHORTLAND STREET have signed up to participate in the Adidas Auckland Marathon and through this page are hoping to raise money to support The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand.

By donating through this webpage you will be helping the Heart Foundation continue its vital work in research, cardiac rehabilitation, education programmes and resources.

Our cast and crew will do all the hard work (giving blood, sweat and tears to the race), but they also really need you to make a difference to the hearts of New Zealanders.

So, please could you sponsor our enthusiastic and athletic cast and crew as they put rubber to pavement on Sunday November 2nd, 2008.

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.

Please get behind us today!

Many thanks for your support