How family tragedy led to volunteering for change

Published: 30 October 2024

After losing her father to a heart attack and later her husband to a sudden cardiac arrest, Annemarie became committed to raising awareness and funds to support heart research.

Annemarie, an editor from Porirua, has been a dedicated Heart Foundation supporter and volunteer for many years.

Growing up in North Canterbury, Annemarie’s first encounter with heart disease came when her father had a heart attack at age 61. Now with two daughters and two stepdaughters, Annemarie is determined to ensure that other families are spared the pain of losing a loved one to heart disease.

“We were brought up on a farm, and my father was always working hard, but when he had a heart attack, it was a shock. He was in the hospital for a few weeks, came home briefly, but suffered a second heart attack and passed away on the farm,” she recalls. 

She was just a teenager at the time and remembers how heart disease wasn’t really talked about as a family risk. “We never discussed whether it ran in the family.”

Annemarie’s connection to heart disease deepened when her husband, Dallas, died unexpectedly in 2009. 

“When my husband Dallas passed, it really hit home that I should help in the fight against heart disease,” she says.

"We were in the Wairarapa for the weekend. It started as a normal Sunday morning—Dallas had been for a run, and stayed with our youngest daughter at a playground while I went for a walk with our other daughter. It must have been awful for her, she was only five—a couple walking by eventually found her sitting next to him on the ground.

“He had a cardiac arrest due to ischaemic heart disease. We didn’t know anything was wrong—he had mentioned feeling short of breath before, but we thought it wasn’t significant.” 

Dallas was just 46 when he passed, leaving Annemarie to raise their two daughters, then aged five and eight, alone. 

“Looking back, maybe there were indicators, but at the time, nothing seemed obvious. It was so sudden.”

Motivated by her personal losses, Annemarie began supporting the Heart Foundation through donations. But her passion for the cause grew, leading her to become a regular volunteer and a Heart Racer in the Wellington Half Marathon.

“I first ran a half marathon and collected for the Heart Foundation in 2011. Later, I became an area coordinator for the Big Heart Appeal. I’ve collected all over Porirua, at places like North City Mall, the Warehouse, and New World.”

Annemarie estimates she’s participated in at least six Big Heart Appeals over the years, often joined by her daughters.

For Annemarie, one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering is the personal connections she makes with the community. 

“When you’re collecting, so many people stop to share their stories. They’ve either had heart surgery or have lost someone to heart disease. Some people even show you their scars, and it’s amazing how widespread heart disease is. It’s not just a man’s disease—many women are affected too, and that’s something that really worries me for my daughters.”

Her husband’s passing and her father’s experience with heart disease have driven home the importance of heart health awareness, particularly for families. 

"It’s so important for families to talk about their heart health. Dallas’s doctor didn’t pick up on anything, but looking back, maybe there were subtle signs we missed. I don’t want other families to go through what we did.” 

She emphasises how medical advancements, like stenting, have made heart disease more treatable today than when her father passed away. 

“If my father had access to the treatments available now, he might have survived. It’s heartbreaking, but it makes me even more committed to supporting heart research.”

When asked what advice she has for others thinking about volunteering or sharing their story, Annemarie encourages people not to hesitate. 

“Volunteering is really easy—it’s not scary at all. People are kind and supportive, and you meet such nice people in your community. Just try it!

"I do it for my daughters, for my family, and for all the families who have been touched by heart disease. It’s important to keep raising awareness and funds so that we can make a difference."