One single act today could make a lifetime of difference

Heart disease remains Australia’s leading cause of death, claiming a life every 18 minutes. Yet one single act today could help change the trajectory for countless families across Australia.

For Pam, the devastating reality of heart disease became personal on 18 January 1985, when her father Len unexpectedly passed away at just 66.

Len had spent the whole day with his grandson, Mike, before dropping him back home in the evening. “I had no idea that would be the last time I’d ever speak to him,” Pam reflects.

That night, Len suffered a massive heart attack and died almost instantly.

The unexpected loss devastated the entire family, particularly Pam’s mother Betty. After 40 wonderful years of marriage, Betty suddenly found herself facing life without her beloved husband.

“Mum was almost 91 by the time she passed. In all that time, she never stopped missing Dad.”

Losing her Dad so suddenly sparked something powerful in Pam – a determination to help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartache. “My husband and I knew years ago that we were going to include a gift in our wills to the Heart Foundation,” she explains.

For Pam, the decision to leave a gift in her will was straightforward: “Science keeps getting better and better. All these things we can do now that we couldn’t have done back in Dad’s day. In the future, with my support, I believe there will be even more we can do.”

Her legacy will help fund the research and medical breakthroughs that mean more people can enjoy happier, healthier, and longer lives.

As Pam explains, “Researchers are the unsung heroes, trying to make a better world for everyone. Those are the people I want to support. It’s as simple as that.”

Many of today’s medical developments are the result of decades of research, advocacy, and awareness raising – much of it made possible through the gifts in wills of compassionate people like Pam.

The Heart Foundation’s Health for Every Heart vision outlines a future where heart health is achievable for everyone in Australia – a world where every person can enjoy fair and equitable access to the high-quality resources and healthcare services they need to live life well.

While leaving a gift in your will can feel daunting, it’s not as complicated as you might think. Free information packs are available to make the process straightforward while ensuring your loved ones are taken care of first and foremost.

With one single act today, you can help protect the hearts and lives of people in Australia for generations to come.