Help us Celebrate our 15th Anniversary Event!

Join us on July 18, 2026, to mark the 15th Anniversary Triple Crown for Heart charity bike ride. The Triple Crown began in 2009 but, like so many in-person events, we were sidelined by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, making this year’s event our 15th ride. Together with you, our sponsors, donors, riders and volunteers, we’re gearing up to make this anniversary event extra special and show our continued support for cardiac kids and their families in BC!

Registration for riders opens February 14!

At the Heart of our Ride

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) affects 1%-2% of children and is responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths in children. (1, 2) In Canada, infants with severe CHD have hospitalization rates 20 times greater than those without CHD. (3, 4)

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 communities throughout BC and the Yukon.  

Once children and teens have had surgery their healing journey continues. Having a heart condition can make it challenging to get back out into the world, to make friends and return to normal daily life. (5)  Parents and families of these children face a unique and challenging experience through every stage of their child’s medical journey, from diagnosis to surgical experience, to the care and life-long healing of a child with CHD. (6, 7) 

How We Help

The Triple Crown for Heart raises funds to provide support to cardiac children and families on their healing journeys through two charities. First, we donate funds to inpatient cardiac wards at BC Children’s Hospital (T6 at BC Children’s Hospital Cardiac inpatient and ward Neuroscience/Cardiac Surgery) through the BCCH foundation. These funds go towards small attainable projects that promote healing and comfort and improve the family’s experience while in hospital. Examples of projects include the renovation and maintenance of an outdoor garden, contribution to the ICU family waiting area for a comfortable sofa bed, providing consistent refreshments for parents in patient kitchens.  

Second, the Triple Crown donates funds to the Children’s Heart Network camp for cardiac kids, Camp Zajac. Offered each year for school aged children, the popular camp provides a chance for children and teens to experience social and outdoor recreational activities with 24 hour on-site medical supervision and a direct link to the cardiologist-on-call at BC Children’s Hospital if needed. Last year the Triple Crown provided enough funds to fully cover one of their two camps! We know that children and teens are at risk for depression and loneliness due to isolation. We are proud to fund this wonderful charity as they provide excellent opportunities for our heart children to make new friends and experience new activities in a safe and supportive setting.

Show us Your Heart

Whether you’re a seasoned participant or this is the first you’ve heard of The Triple Crown for Heart, we’d love to welcome you into our community of riders, donors, sponsors and volunteers this July 18. We hope you will join us for our 15th Anniversary event!

—

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

  1. van der Linde D., Konings E.E., Slager M.A. Birth prevalence of congenital heart disease worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;58:2241–2247. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2011.08.025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]. 

  2.  Benjamin E.J., Virani S.S., Callaway C.W. Heart disease and stroke statistics-2018 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2018;137:e67–e492. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000558. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 

  3. Faraoni D., Nasr V.G., DiNardo J.A. Overall hospital cost estimates in children with congenital heart disease: analysis of the 2012 Kid’s Inpatient Database. Pediatr Cardiol. 2016;37:37–43. doi: 10.1007/s00246-015-1235-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar].

  4. Harris K.C. Congenital heart disease: surgical repair is just the beginning, Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2018;34:1250–1252. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2018.07.414. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar].

  5. Marlies Maes, PhD, Win Van den Noortgate. PhD, Suzanne F. Fastolo-Gunnink, MSc Jessic Rassart, MSc, Koen Luyckx Ph D, Luc Goossens, Ph D Loneliness in Children and Adolescent with Chronic Physical Conditions: A Meta0Analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Volume 42, Issue 6, July 2017, Page 622-635.

  6. Tuck, Heather Bsn, RN MN, Schumacher, Connie, RN, PhD.  Supports for Parents of Infants Diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Defect: A Narrative Synthesis of Qualitative Research. Canadian Journal of Cardiac Nursing Volume 35, Issue 2, Fall 2025. https://cccn.ca/_uploads/695e739fc586c.pdf.

  7. Nemes, F Dylan BSc, Bennett, Erica V PhD, Harris, Harris, Kevin C, MD, MHSc, Wall, Nicholas BSc, Voss, Christine, PhD. Growing Up with Congenital Heart Disease: A Qualitative Research Study of Parents’ and Clinicians’ Experience and Perspectives. Volume 4, Issue 1 Pg 22-33 Feb 2025 https://www.cjcpc.ca/article/S2772-8129(24)00105-2/fulltext.

“Riding the Triple Crown for Heart is a highly anticipated event on my calendar! It not only provides a physical challenge but more importantly gives cyclists like myself the chance to enjoy the comradery of other cyclists in non-race environment and give to a worthy cause. I really enjoy this event every year and speak very highly of it to friends and colleagues, so much that now my wife and daughter also come out to volunteer and experience the energy!”
— Ryan, Cyclist and Registered Nurse