Dave's Bike Dream for Heart Kids

$15,174 of $20,000 goal

Given by 115 generous donors in around 6 months

I'm cycling 1500 km in Italy in May, with the goal of fundraising $20,000 to support the amazing work Heart Kids does across New Zealand.

Nationwide

In May I'm riding 12 stages of “La Bella Italia”, a cycle tour of Italy. The tour loosely follows the 2018 Giro d’Italia route, starting in Sicily (with Mt Etna being a highlight). I'll ride almost 1500km and climb the height of 3 Mount Everests! All in support of Heart Kids.

It seems only right that while I'm doing something I love, I take the opportunity to support an incredible charity that truly does make a difference. Each week in New Zealand,12 babies are born with a 'broken heart', meaning that they are born with a congenital heart defect. Imagine what that must be like to go through as a new parent.

Heart Kids are intimately involved in providing support to these families, bridging the gap between what these families desperately need, and what the health service does not always have the time or resources to provide. They receive no government funding, yet support so many with so little. Your donation goes towards supporting Heart Kids and their families across New Zealand.

You can follow my journey at www.facebook.com/DavesBikeDream

Many thanks for your generous support!

David Cunningham's involvement (page creator)

I see first-hand the amazing work the Heart Kids team does across New Zealand, as my wife Annie supports hundreds of the Heart families across the Wellington region. Heart Kids truly does have a profound positive impact on families' lives.

Today’s ride was for Olive, a very special Heart Kid 17 May 2019

Stage 10 La Bella Italia. “Riding for Olive”

Today’s ride was for one of the very special Heart Kids and her family who my wife Annie supported over the last 18 months, Olive.

As I’ve cycled through Sicily and Southern Italy, almost every hillside is planted in olive trees. It’s made me reflect on baby Olive, who passed away when she was 9 months of age in August 2018. Olive was born with a heart condition and had her first surgery, which was open heart at Starship Hospital at just 6 weeks of age. All up, Olive spent 7 months of her very short life in hospital.

Heart Kids, especially Annie, supported Olive, her Mum and Dad, and sister Willow, through a hugely challenging journey. Unfortunately, it was a journey that Olive didn’t survive, leaving a huge hole in so many people’s lives.

In November 2018 on what would have been her first birthday, a memorial was held for Olive at her family’s farm. Every guest brought an olive tree, which has been planted as an olive grove in her memory. All up there are over 100 olive trees that will mature, and bear fruit, in a way that Olive never got the chance to do.

Ciao from Italy

David

🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️ for 💔💔💔

Today’s stats

Distance: 139km

Time: 7 hours 4 mins

Elevation gain: 2609 metres

Punctures: 1

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