The Heart Foundation has today announced Amie Frydenberg as a Heart Foundation Walking ambassador.
Mrs Frydenberg, 42, is an avid walker and runner. She strides out regularly around her Melbourne neighbourhood with her two children, seven-year-old Gemma and four-year-old Blake. They are usually joined by their pug-Maltese-dachshund cross, Fonzie.
"I am honoured to be an ambassador of Heart Foundation Walking, which has a long history of helping Australians stay fit and healthy through regular walking," said Mrs Frydenberg, who has joined the Kooyong Recreation Walking Group.
As a busy working mum, Mrs Frydenberg understands how challenging it can be to find the time to be active on a regular basis.
"But it is so important to make this a priority. This is not only for our own heart health, but also to show our kids that exercise needs to be a routine part of their day – like brushing their teeth – for both long-term physical and mental health," she said.
"One of the things I like most about the Heart Foundation Walking program is its flexibility. People can choose to join a group, but for those who prefer to walk on their own, there are free six-week Personal Walking Plans.
"I look forward to encouraging more people to get out walking – whether it's alone, with their family, or as part of a local Heart Foundation Walking group."
Like many Australians, Mrs Frydenberg has personal connections to heart disease. Her maternal grandfather died from a heart attack when he was 66 years old, and her paternal grandmother needed a heart-valve replacement and a pacemaker.
"I was only a little girl when my grandfather died, but I remember being shocked and very sad. It had a big impact on our family at the time. Looking back as an adult now, and the fact that he was only 66, it seems even more tragic," she said.
"In my conversations with the Heart Foundation, I have learned that around 50 people a day die from heart disease, and that many of these deaths could have been prevented through lifestyle changes.
"As a Heart Foundation Walking ambassador, I am keen to help raise Australians' awareness of heart-healthy lifestyles, especially the need for regular exercise."
