Stepping up to the challenge in the race against heart disease

Media release: Tuesday 29 July 2025

Big-hearted runners clock up the kilometres in ‘Run for Heart’ fundraiser

The Heart Foundation is cheering on people across Australia who have collectively run the equivalent of three laps of the country to raise funds for life-saving heart disease research and support.

More than 1,500 participants joined the Run for Heart fundaiser which began in June, with challengers attempting to run and walk a marathon effort (42.2km ) during the campaign month.

Participants logged more than 45,000 kilometers across the month, which is the equivalent to about:

• Three laps of Australia’s perimeter travelling via major highways on a roadtrip
• 60,000 laps around the outside of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) precinct
• More than 14,000 laps up and back across the Sydney Harbour Bridge
• 185 trips along the Great Ocean Road
• 1,071 full marathons.

Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd, who singlehandedly logged more than 120 kilometers, said Australia’s generosity in raising more than $235,000 so far was remarkable and the tally was set to rise with donations open until 31 July.

“Congratulations to everyone who has stepped up to take action to fight heart disease in this year’s Run for Heart challenge,” Mr LLoyd said.

We know that cardiovascular disease claims the life of one person every 12 minutes in Australia. Initiatives such as Run for Heart empowers people in Australia to take action and do what they can to a make a difference to the heart health of the nation.

David Lloyd

Heart Foundation CEO

“The Heart Foundation is on a mission to improve the heart health of our nation and this is simply not achieveable without the fundraising efforts for vital heart research and our crucial support programs for people living with heart disease and their families.”

Ella becomes a runner for a cause close to her heart

27-year-old Ella from New South Wales hadn’t run before, but losing her father William unexpectedly to a heart attack in February prompted her to participate in Run for Heart for the first time.

“I was struggling with grief, and I saw an advertisement saying ‘Run for Heart’ was starting, and I thought, ‘that’s Dad saying give it a go”, she said.

“I thought I’ve just got to do this, Dad would have loved the thought of that. Originally when I signed up I signed up to run the 42km across the month, but he was 52 (years old) when he passed away, so I ended up running 52km.

Ella

Run for Heart fundraiser

“To start with it was challenging, but I’d gone through his phone and had his music playlist, so I created a playlist to get me through. It was bands like ACDC and Credence Clearwater—all good pump-up songs.”

Ella set out to fundraise $250 for the Heart Foundation, but William’s colleagues and her family and friends rallied around her efforts and donated nearly $2,000 in support.

“Everyone's support really blew me away,” she said.

“I’m still running each day. Run for Heart was amazing, even the Facebook group with everyone sharing their progress stories was special.”

Funds raised as part of Run for Heart will help support:

• Life-saving heart research that could transform heart disease diagnosis and treatment
• health professionals who prevent and treat heart disease
• programs, resources and professional advice for people at risk of heart disease.

Donations for Run for Heart are open until 31 July 2025.

To donate, or sign up for Run for Heart in 2026 and receive a free training guide, visit: www.runforheart.org.au