The Heart Foundation is cheering on people across Australia who have collectively run the equivalent of three laps of the country to raise funds for life-saving heart disease research and support.
More than 1500 participants joined the Run for Heart fundraiser that started in June, with challengers attempting to run and walk a marathon effort (42.2km) during the campaign month.
Participants logged more than 45,000 kilometres across June.
Heart Foundation chief executive David Lloyd, who logged more than 120 kilometres, said Australia’s generosity in raising more than $235,000 so far was remarkable.
“Congratulations to everyone who has stepped up to take action to fight heart disease in this year’s Run for Heart challenge,” Mr LLoyd said.
“We know that cardiovascular disease claims the life of one person every 12 minutes in Australia. Initiatives such as Run for Heart empowers people to take action and do what they can to a make a difference.
“The Heart Foundation is on a mission to improve the heart health of our nation and this is simply not achieveable without the fundraising efforts for vital heart research and our crucial support programs for people living with heart disease and their families.”
Funds raised as part of Run for Heart will help support life-saving heart research that could transform heart disease diagnosis and treatment, health professionals who prevent and treat heart disease and programs, resources and professional advice for people at risk of heart disease.
