What’s Happening?
Camryn and her family will join the HeartKids community in Mackay this Saturday for the annual Two Feet & A Heartbeat charity walk.
The event takes place at Old Mulherin Park on Saturday, 17 October 2026, starting at 3pm. It brings together children and adults living with childhood-onset heart disease, alongside their families, friends and supporters.
Camryn was diagnosed with a heart condition before she was born. Following surgery as a baby, her mother, Kimberly, says she has shown remarkable resilience and recovered quickly.
Why It Matters
For families affected by childhood-onset heart disease, the journey can involve uncertainty, medical treatment and ongoing support.
Camryn was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot during pregnancy. Her mother, Kimberly, recalled how difficult the news was for the family.
“We received the news during a pregnancy scan that our daughter would be born with Tetralogy of Fallot. I’m glossing over it here – but that was a very rough day.”
Although Camryn initially returned home after a short stay in special care, she later experienced frightening low-oxygen episodes.
Kimberly explained how her daughter’s condition led to further treatment.
“Once home, she was a very normal baby, until she experienced frightening low-oxygen spells (Tet Spells) at five months old. This led to our admittance to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, where she had surgery at six months old for a ‘full repair’.”
Local Impact
The Mackay walk gives local families an opportunity to connect with others who understand the challenges of childhood-onset heart disease. Participants can celebrate milestones, share their experiences and remember loved ones whose lives were cut short.
The event also raises funds for HeartKids, which provides information, hospital-based support, peer connections and advocacy for affected families.
For Kimberly and her family, finding HeartKids during Camryn’s diagnosis provided reassurance at a difficult time.
“He found HeartKids online and we read the stories of families who had received similar news for their little one. These stories were hope for us during a really difficult time.”
By The Numbers
-
Eight babies are born with a heart condition in Australia each day, according to HeartKids.
-
An estimated 250,000 Australians are living with childhood-onset heart disease.
-
More than 6,700 people participated in Two Feet & A Heartbeat walks across Australia last year.
Zoom In
Camryn’s journey began with a diagnosis during a pregnancy scan. Throughout the pregnancy and after her birth, doctors monitored her condition.
Kimberly said the family was surprised when Camryn could return home after only a short stay in the special care nursery. However, her low-oxygen episodes later required hospital treatment and surgery. Since then, Camryn’s recovery has been a source of encouragement for her family.
“Since her surgery, she has blown us away with her resilience and the speed of her recovery. Apart from her little ‘zipper’, you wouldn’t know she had been through what she has in her short life so far.”
Zoom Out
HeartKids is Australia’s national organisation dedicated to supporting children, young people and families affected by childhood-onset heart disease.
Its annual Two Feet & A Heartbeat campaign brings communities together through volunteer-run events across Australia.
Funds raised help provide hospital support, education days, camps, peer support programs and ongoing assistance for families managing the condition. HeartKids CEO Samantha Glastonbury said the walks are about more than fundraising.
“Every heart has a story. Every person who walks with us is showing children, young people, adults and families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease that they are not walking this journey alone.”
The organisation estimates that around one million Australians, including parents, carers and siblings, are affected by childhood-onset heart disease.
What To Look For Next?
Mackay’s Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk will take place at Old Mulherin Park on Saturday, 17 October, at 3pm.
Registrations are open, and participants can join the local walk, seek sponsorship or donate to HeartKids, those unable to attend can also take part through a virtual walk from anywhere in Australia.
HeartKids will continue holding walks across the country until Sunday, 25 October.
