Let’s have a Heart to Heart.

Dear Riders, Donors, Volunteers, and Sponsors:

Congenital Heart Disease is the most prevalent birth defect and effects children no matter their race, ethnicity or place of birth.  In Canada, prevalence of CHD is 1.23 per 100 live births (1). Throughout the world, CHD is responsible for over 180,00 deaths and a main contributing factor in lifelong disability (2). 

Having access to Cardiac care and repair is still somewhat rare throughout the world.  In some cases children wait for years to see a cardiac specialist. We are both very lucky and proud to have Cardiac services at children’s hospital here in BC.  At BC Children’s Hospital, between 400-500 cardiac surgeries are performed each year. Cardiac services also provides outreach clinics to rural cities throughout BC and the Yukon.  

We are also aware that once children and teens have had surgery and have a heart condition there can be challenges getting back out into the world to make friends and return to life as we know it. The Children’s Heart Network provides Camp Zajac and Camp Summit which give these children and teens the opportunity to make friends and experience life in a safe environment (3). 

The Triple Crown for Heart aims to provide this support through funds donated to two charities. The first is through donations to inpatient cardiac wards at BC Children’s Hospital (T6 at BC Children’s Hospital Cardiac inpatient and ward Neuroscience/Surgery) through the BCCH foundation, which provides support for small attainable projects which improve the family’s experience while in hospital. The projects strive to promote healing and health of the children and families (ex. Renovation and maintenance of outdoor garden 2010 -2013, contribution to the ICU family waiting area for a comfortable sofa bed, consistent tea and coffee for parents in patient kitchens for parents).  

The second way Triple Crown provides support is through donations to the Children’s Heart Network’s Camp Zajac, which is run each year for school-aged children. The popular camp provides a chance for children and teens to experience social and outdoor recreational endeavours. The campers at Camp Zajac have a 24 hour on-site medical supervision and a direct link to the cardiologist-on-call at BC Children’s Hospital if needed. Last year we provided enough funds to cover one of the two camps! We know that children and teens are at risk for depression and loneliness due to isolation (3).  We continue to support this wonderful charity as they provide excellent opportunities for our heart children to make friends and experience activities they have not done before!

Please come join us in support of cardiac children and families to ease their burden while in hospital and help the children and teens continue to have life experiences afterwards through a dedicated cardiac camp.

Marie Campbell 
Founder and Chair
On behalf of the Triple Crown for Heart Association

1. Miao, Q., Dunn, S., Wen, S.W. et al. Association between maternal marginalization and infants born with congenital heart disease in Ontario Canada. BMC Public Health 23, 790 (2023). 

2.  Miao, Q., Dunn, S., Wen, S. W., Lougheed, J., Reszel, J., Lavin Venegas, C., & Walker, M. (2021). Neighbourhood maternal socioeconomic status indicators and risk of congenital heart disease. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1), 1-21. 

3. Marlies Maes, PhD, Wim Van den Noortgate, PhD, Suzanne F. Fustolo-Gunnink, MSc, Jessica Rassart, MSc, Koen Luyckx PhD, Luc Goossens, PhD. Loneliness in Children and Adolescents With Chronic Physical Conditions: A Meta-Analysis.  Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Volume 42, Issue 6, July 2017, Pages 622–635.