JASON & I: A Step-Up to Harbour Bridge

First half-marathon

After crossing the Harbour Bridge

Cooling off after a running event

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 us as we join the race to beat heart disease.

We've signed up as a Heart Racer to raise money to support the Heart Foundation. By donating through our webpage you will be helping the Heart Foundation continue its vital work in research, cardiac rehabilitation, education programmes and resources.

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

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 us today! And pass it on to your family and friends!

Many thanks for your support.
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After completing 16 of 10kms-12kms running events over the last three years, Jason & I are finally stepping-up to 21kms to complete the half marathon at the adidas Auckland Marathon 2009 event.

We both have been training hard. I'm still making use of the beach which is only a doorstep away from work. Jas is making the most of the Gym. The marathon event will also be the starting point for Jason & I to celebrate our 11TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY towards the end of the year.

Keep moving!
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WE DID IT! Thanks to those who donated to the Heart Foundation, to those who supported us during the hard-earned training and to my boss for sponsoring the 'running team' at work.

We completed the half marathon well before our expected time. Thanks to the Whittaker's Dark Ghana chocolate which worked wonders after the 13 kms.

The weather was well in our favour. The view from the bridge was spectacular by foot and didn't seem so steep after all.

Thanks to Mum for the hearty soup waiting for us when we got back.

Glad to have done it and we're contemplating the next running event.

The hardest part now is getting up in the morning!

Arlene