Race to Remember
Let’s race to remember.
What is
Childhood-onset Heart Disease (CoHD)?
Childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) is the collective term for the spectrum of heart conditions that affect the heart’s ability to work efficiently.
Heart defects and conditions experienced from birth are known as Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD). Acquired Heart Disease refers to conditions that arise later in childhood, commonly as a result of infections or exposures.
Condition Types
Aortic Valve Disease
Atrial Septal Defect
Atrio-ventricular Septal Defect (AVSD)
Cardiomyopathy
Coarctation of the Aorta
Cyanotic Congenital disease
Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS)
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HlHS)
Mitral Valve Disease
Persistent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Pulmonary Atresia
Pulmonary Valve Disease
Single Ventricle Pathology
Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF)
Pulmonary Stenosis
Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
What We Do
HeartKids is the only Australian charity dedicated to providing lifelong support, resources, and advocacy for the 250,000 people impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD). We provide connection and care informed by lived-experience to ensure no one faces this journey alone.
Our Support
CoHD is a lifelong journey, and so is HeartKids’ support. Our teams, many with lived experience, offer emotional and practical care, tailored to milestones like diagnosis, schooling, and adulthood, ensuring families and individuals receive expert guidance at every stage.
Our Impact
For over 40 years, HeartKids has provided much-needed quality services, support and solutions to more than 250,000 Australian children, teenagers and adults impacted by CoHD.
Our Resources
HeartKids provides trusted information and resources about CoHD. Our resource library is a one-stop-shop for all our CoHD resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, videos and more.
How You Can Help
Give to HeartKids
Your heartfelt gift will bring hope and transformation to over 80,000 Australians living with CoHD, and much-needed support to hundreds of families coping with the grief and loss of their child. Discover the ways to give and get involved today.
Community Fundraising
Find your passion and get involved in making a lasting difference in the lives of those impacted by CoHD. Discover our engaging community programs today.Â
Get Your Work Involved
Discover how to get your workplace involved in transforming the lives of those living with CoHD today.Â
Volunteer With Us
We greatly appreciate the gift of your time as we unite to support those living with CoHD. Explore the many ways you can volunteer with HeartKids. Â
Latest News and Stories
Angel Flight & HeartKids – Reducing Barriers to Care for Remote FamiliesÂ
Accessing life-saving medical care can be a real challenge for families living in rural and regional Australia. HeartKids is dedicated to supporting families with childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) and understands the challenges they face, especially in rural areas where specialised care is limited. That’s why HeartKids’ partnership with Angel Flight Australia is so vital. Together, […]...
Better Starts
We acknowledge that starting school can be a very significant milestone for children with CoHD and their families. Our Better Starts program focuses on supporting families with children aged 4-6 years through their transition to school. Through monthly online sessions and resource material, our Occupational Therapist will provide practical ideas to support school readiness and […]...
Better Beginnings
Better Beginnings is a national online program that aims to support HeartKids families with children from Birth to 4 years old. The program acknowledges that children with CoHD are at increased risk of developmental delay, particularly those who have had surgery before the age of 1. Often, delays are subtle and can go unnoticed until […]...
Meet the Scientist: From Stem Cells to Heart Valves – Dr. Holly Voges’ Pioneering Research
From Left: Jessica Durrant-Whyte (Research Assistant), Serene Yeow (PHD Student) and Dr. Holly Voges (Senior Researcher) Welcome to our new Meet the Scientist blog series. HeartKids is thrilled to launch this new series which brings innovative research on childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) closer to our community, showcasing the real-world impact for those navigating CoHD.First up, […]...
Notice of HeartKids Annual General Meeting 2024
The 8th Annual General Meeting of HeartKids Limited will take place on Monday, 2nd December 2024 at 5:00 pm (via MS Teams). Members of our HeartKids community are welcome to attend. Agenda Associate Members Can: To join the AGM, please register with martine.musumeci@heartkids.org.au....
Building lifelong connections at HeartKids Teen Camp
At the end of September, the tiny coastal town of Grantville, located at the entrance of Victoria’s beautiful Gippsland region, played host to a group of heart teens, volunteers and HeartKids staff for our VIC/SA/TAS Teen Camp for 2024. Over four days, a group of 32 campers took part in activities designed to help them […]...
Supporting Early Development with HeartKids’ Better Beginnings Program
Children with Childhood-onset Heart Disease (CoHD) can face developmental delays, especially those who undergo surgery before their first birthday. These delays may go unnoticed until formal schooling begins. To help children’s development, a HeartKids Occupational Therapist created the Better Beginnings program. The program provides early assessment and intervention to improve outcomes. Parents learn valuable strategies […]...
Media Release: Two Feet & A Heartbeat – Raising Awareness and Remembering Heart Angels
Two Feet & A Heartbeat: Raising Awareness and Remembering Heart Angels 17 September 2024 HeartKids’ annual Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk is gearing up to set off on the 12th of October 2024 in over 30 locations, with hundreds of participants already registered to take part and raise awareness of childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) […]...
Media Release: Champions get their hearts racing in the 2024 HeartKids ‘Race to Remember’
Champions get their hearts racing in the 2024 HeartKids ‘Race to Remember’ 17 September 2024 HeartKids, Australia’s only charity dedicated to supporting families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) is excited to join with professional athlete ambassadors to launch 2024’s ‘Race to Remember’, a pulse-raising activity-based community fundraiser this October. The month-long nationwide event calls […]...
Media Release: Welcome to Hoptober!
HeartKids calls on all young Aussie Hop-Stars to Hop for HeartKids HeartKids, Australia’s only charity dedicated to supporting families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) is rallying all kindy, pre-school and primary school kids to hop into Hoptober and help Aussie heart kids. Hop for Heartkids is the first pre-school and school hopping challenge helping […]...
