Sign up as one of ‘Milney’s Mates’

Why we all need to stay active on heart health

A message from Clifford Craig Foundation CEO Peter Milne

When I first heard that one of Australia’s most influential athletes – Shane Warne – had died from a suspected heart attack, it shook me to my core.

Like many in the community, it was hard to come to terms with the loss of such an iconic identity. This was heightened by the ‘untimely’ nature of his death.

At the age of 52 Shane Warne was taken far too soon.  

Days later the news cycle was filled with another sudden heart attack death in Labor senator Kimberley Kitching.  

The loss of another prominent figure, who was also just 52, once again thrust Australia’s biggest killer – heart disease – into the spotlight.

Both deaths were tragic. But sadly, Australians lose loved ones to heart disease all the time. In fact, 18 people die from a heart attack in this country every single day.

But while most of these deaths will never make a news headline, it doesn’t mean they are any less tragic. Particularly when you consider that heart disease is largely preventable.    

Northern Tasmania continues to have the highest rates of heart disease in the country – impacting almost 8 per cent of the population.

As the health promotion charity supporting the Launceston General Hospital – the acute referral hospital for Northern Tasmania – the Clifford Craig Foundation wants to help turn these statistics around.

Now in its 15th year, our annual Run & Walk for Your Heart event has one main goal – motivating community members to commit to leading a more active lifestyle.

We know that regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to prevent heart disease and improve our overall wellness.

And what better time to get your body moving then as we head into the warmer months.  

Importantly, all funds raised on the day will be used to support medical research projects aimed at finding better treatments and cures for heart-related illnesses that continue to burden our community.

Inactivity continues to be one of the leading risk factors contributing to many preventable diseases.

We know that most of the risk factors for heart disease are preventable, so we can either sit back and do nothing, or we can take action.

I would like to encourage the community to join the Clifford Craig Foundation on Sunday, October 2 for our 5 kilometre Run & Walk for Your Heart event.

You can walk it with your family, race a friend or bring the kids along for an 800 metre sprint.

If you want to join a team, I will personally be taking part in this year’s event and have encouraged many of my friends and colleagues to join me as one of “Milney’s Mates”. This invitation is open to everyone.

Importantly, every single person who takes part on the day will be walking or running for a healthier future.

If you are unavailable that day, there is also the option to sign up for the virtual event, which can be completed anywhere between September 25 and October 2. 

Together, we can turn the statistics around heart disease around. You just have to take the first step.