Please support me to cycle the Tour Aotearoa to raise awareness of heart conditions and funds for heart research.
Nationwide
My mission is to ride the length of NZ, 3000km in one month as part of the Tour Aotearoa to raise awareness of heart conditions and funds for heart research. Let's stop young athletes loosing their life too soon!
My youngest son Patrick Dean Avery suffered the ultimate price after having a heart attack while having fun in a local club criterium cycle race at the age of 21. He was a NZ representative mountain biker and one of the top up-and-coming young talents in our country.
His condition- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We had no idea. A condition which is liveable when detected and managed... He didn't need to die!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10852047 (NZ Herald Article)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11171396 (NZ Herald Article- pushing for mandatory testing for top level athletes)
His Doctor said several times, "He couldn't do what he does if he had a heart condition".
Symptoms: Fatigue, slow recovery, dizziness.
The biggest mistake of our lives was not pushing for a second or third opinion. Any top level athlete, weekend warrior or beginner could be battling a condition they don't even know they have.
Patrick was an extremely successful competitive athlete, who had been to the doctor to get checked out. A simple echocardiogram would have saved his life. Help me share my journey and my story to save as many lives as I can along the way.
All money raised will go to the New Zealand Heart Foundation.
More than anything, my wish is to raise awareness. The more people that know, the more likely someone will think twice about something abnormal, go to a doctor, and push to get the right tests done.
My Son died cycling at the age 21 year old, heart attack
I want the awareness that research is important to keep up with prevention
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