Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping:
Originally posted 16/10/2026 in the Ocean Grove Voice
HeartKids’ Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk comes to Connewarre, with a local mum sharing her daughter Willow’s story.
Greater Geelong community members can support kids living with a heart condition during an upcoming fundraising walk.
HeartKids will host a Two Feet & A Heartbeat event at Connewarre Memorial Hall on Sunday 18 October to raise awareness of childhood-onset heart disease.
Geelong mum Kimberley Bell’s daughter Willow was born at 33 weeks and six days after developing a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm.
“My husband Micky and I learned of Willow’s congenital heart defect, Ebstein’s anomaly, when I was 28 weeks pregnant,” she said.
“Willow was born at 33 weeks and six days after developing supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm.
“She spent weeks in the Royal Children’s PICU and Koala Ward, then at the local hospital, before finally making it home.
“While waiting for surgery to be planned, Willow went into cardiac arrest at home at five months old, and we resuscitated her while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
“After her open-heart surgery, she suffered a life-threatening complication called disseminated intravascular coagulation, but thanks to her fantastic medical team, Willow overcame this complication and recovered well.”
Willow is now four years old, and Ms Bell said she was grateful for the support HeartKids had given the family.
“Openly sharing our stories and the trauma of our journeys brings us all together and builds a bond that you cannot even explain,” she said.
“HeartKids introduced themselves to us when we were on the ward with Willow after she was born, and they provided us with a friendly face, support and information.”
HeartKids chief executive Samantha Glastonbury said more than 6700 people across the country joined last year’s Two Feet & A Heartbeat initiative.
“Every step honours a heart story, and every heartbeat reminds us why we walk,” she said.
