Geraldton locals braved the heat for Two Feet and a Heartbeat walk last weekend

A crowd braved the 39C heat on Sunday to gather at Geraldton’s Midalia Beach and hit the pavement for a truly heartwarming cause. Four-year-old Marnie Ruscoe was the Geraldton ambassador for HeartKids’ Two Feet and a Heartbeat walk, helping to cut the ribbon and raise more than $1600. Marnie was diagnosed with a congenital heart disease at only four weeks old, having to undergo a five-hour heart surgery just one day after her family was told the news. She later underwent a second surgery for cardiac catheterisation with balloon dilation, then having to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. Fast forward to Sunday, Marnie is a happy and healthy four-year-old who was the ambassador for the HeartKids walk, helping raise $1630 for families affected by the disease. Each week four lives are lost to congenital heart disease in Australia, and the Two Feet and a Heartbeat walk aimed to raise awareness about the disease. There were four walks held across WA with locations in Geraldton, Perth, Bunbury and Broome, with people wearing HeartKids shirts that go towards raising funds. The Geraldton walk had a 4km option for the four lives that are lost each week, or an 8km option for the eight babies born with CHD each day, with a bouncy castle, face painting and ice-cream truck for people to enjoy after their efforts HeartKids has so far managed to raise more than $240,000 out of its goal of $350,000, helped with efforts of the walks across Australia.