The BC Children’s Hospital Heart Centre cardiology clinic provides complete care for children and adolescents living with all kinds of congenital and acquired heart disease. Donations we raise through the Triple Crown for Heart for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation go to inpatient cardiac wards at BC Children’s Hospital to provide support to improve the family’s experience while in hospital and promote the healing and health of the pediatric heart patients and families. We also donate to Camp Zajac through the Children’s Heart Network to continue supporting these children beyond their hospital journey.

We have been so privileged over the years to have the support not just of the BC Children’s Hospital, but also of individual health professionals whose dedication to the children and families they serve extends beyond the hospital into the larger community, including our charitable event. This ride was founded by one such individual, Marie Campbell, when she was a pediatric cardiac nurse at BC Children’s Hospital. We are honoured to have doctors and nurses who ride with us, volunteer with us, and donate to our causes every year. We are so grateful for what they do on a daily basis on behalf of their patients and their families.

We recently had a heart-to-heart with two of our Triple Crown riders who also happen to be long-term integral team members of BC Children’s Cardiac Services, Dr. Martin Hosking and Connie Ens, RN. Below are their responses to our questions:

What is your favourite part of BCCH Cardiac services?
My colleagues and co-workers are a privilege to work with. We enjoy and respect each other.  In sometimes difficult circumstances we always support each other. In the 24 years I have been with BC Childrens Cardiology my most favourite thing is to watch the children grow up, deal with what ever Mother Nature sent them, get big (often bigger than their parents) and then launch into their future. That is the best part of my job. 

Why do you ride the Triple Crown for Heart?
The Childrens Heart Network is an integral component to the family care of children with congenital and acquired heart defects. CHN provides a level of care and support that is totally different from the pure medical/surgical aspects of pediatric cardiology.  CHN provides the children, adolescent and family a safe, fun supportive environment that says “Yes, I have a scar on my chest but I can do anything I want .” I ride to support this incredibly worthy group and the children they represent.  

How do you balance supporting Heart Families and your own active lifestyle?
I have been physically active my whole life.  It is who I am.  I ride to work and use my bicycle whenever possible.  During winter I am on my skinny ski’s.  I hope my activities will in some way influence my patients choices.  Sometimes actions speak louder than words.  

What is your favourite part of BCCH Cardiac services?
This is a tie between the amazing team I have worked with over the past 35 years at BC Children and the families I  have been privileged enough to share their journeys with. The love and strength of our families as they champion their children is really what has been the absolute highlight of my career. I go home every day feeling grateful for my own life and children. 

Why do you ride the Triple Crown for Heart?
This is more of a “who” rather than a “what” question. I have never been an athlete or a cyclist. I knew about the Triple Crown through the “elite” athletes that I work with. Martin finally convinced me to take a series of cycling classes and this is where I met Kristina Bangma. Kristina is an amazing woman who is the coach and owner of Kits Energy Cycling Club. She easily shared her own story of her journey with heart disease. I could no longer say, “I can’t do this”. If she can, then I have no excuse. I am not at the level of doing all of the Triple Crown but I can get myself up Cypress which is a success for me.  

How do you balance supporting Heart Families and your own active lifestyle?
In all honesty, between caring full time for our wee heart warriors and raising my own four children, the only activities I did were cleaning the house and driving my children to their various activities. Thankfully, seeing our heart families strive to encourage their children to be active and my team, I was able to reinvent my myself over the past 5 years to be my best physically. It is never too late!