Australians invited to Walk for Heartkids this October

Australians are being encouraged to put on their walking shoes this October as HeartKids’ annual Two Feet & A Heartbeat walks bring thousands of heart kids, heart adults, families, friends and supporters together across Australia.

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Every day in Australia, eight babies are born a heart condition, and many more will acquire a heart condition during childhood. Around 250,000 Australians are living with childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), with an estimated one million Australians, including parents, carers and siblings, impacted.

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Two Feet & A Heartbeat bring together children and adults living with CoHD, walking side-by side with their families, friends, and supporters.  Milestones are celebrated, remembering those whose lives were far too short, sharing heart stories, raising awareness of childhood-onset heart disease and raising vital funds to allow Heartkids to support heart families across Australia.

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Funds raised through Two Feet & A Heartbeat help HeartKids provide information, support via Heartkids teams on wards in hospitals, connection and advocacy across every stage of the unique CoHD journey.

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HeartKids CEO Samantha Glastonbury explains that Two Feet & A Heartbeat is much more than a fundraising walk – it is an opportunity for the HeartKids community to come together and stand together.

“Every heart has a story. Every person who walks with us is showing children, young people, adults and families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease that they are not walking this journey alone.”

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“Last year, over 6,700 people joined Two Feet & A Heartbeat across Australia, helping us raise vital funds so we can be there for heart families in the critical moments when they need us most.”

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“Whether you are a heart kid, heart adult, heart parent, grandparent, sibling, friend, supporter, healthcare professional or someone walking in memory of a loved one, this day is for you. We invite everyone to join us as one big heart community this October. Every step honours a heart story, and every heartbeat reminds us why we walk.”

“Because once you’re a heart family, you’re always a heart family. Once a heart parent, always a heart parent. Once a heart kid, always a heart kid.”

Community support is vital for HeartKids to be able to provide its range of support services including camps, education days, peer support programs and ongoing help for heart families to manage the impact of this lifelong condition.

About childhood-onset heart disease

Childhood-onset heart disease is a lifelong condition that often encompasses periods of fluctuating health, periods of developmental, educational, relational and occupational transition, and periods of uncertainty, medical decision-making, information processing, adversity and adjustment.  

Key statistics:  

• Eight babies are born each day with a heart condition.

• Childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) places a significant burden on an estimated 250,000 Australian children, teens and adults and a larger number of family members and carers with an estimated 1,000,000 Australians touched by CoHD (prevalence based on known incidence of CHD, AIHW, 2019).  

• The total economic burden associated with CoHD is estimated at $2.292 billion dollars per annum, including an approximate GDP loss of $12.89 million annually (Sapere, 2024).  

• People with CoHD are at a greater risk of neurodevelopmental impairment and disability including developmental delay and other learning difficulties.  

• CoHD poses a substantial economic burden on people impacted by the conditions, Australia’s healthcare system, educational institutions, the workforce and the broader economy.

Two Feet & A Heartbeat Walks 2026

Two Feet & A Heartbeat events will take place throughout October, with participants also able to take part virtually from anywhere in Australia. We walk for the kids showing incredible courage every day.  

Every step and every dollar raised helps HeartKids continues to provide information, support, connection and advocacy to children, young people and families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease.