Showing love through baking

HeartKids - South Australia Division
__Inspiring. Passionate. Giving __

Grandmother Katerina Iliopoulos is giving back as a passionate and generous fundraiser for families affected by congenital heart disease.

Over the last three years, she has raised nearly $20,000 for the charity HeartKids by baking and selling mountains of Greek shortbread.

HeartKids aims to give every child diagnosed with congenital heart disease a fighting chance of leading a long and fulfilling life. The charity funds research, advocates for people with the disease and offers guidance, information and support throughout their journey.

Katerina was inspired to support the charity after her granddaughter benefited from their support to travel to Melbourne for surgery.

Thankfully, Zoe made a quick recovery and is now a healthy and active little girl. But some children require multiple surgeries and trips to Melbourne.

HeartKids also provides the families with peer support once they return home, which is often the hardest period.

“Being able to support others, while in turn receiving support, has created a strong sense of community and reduced the feeling of being alone when it comes to caring for a heart kid,” Katerina says.

She is surprised to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “I am delighted to do my part, alongside many other supporters and volunteers,” she says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. HeartKids will use its funds to continue offering its support programs to families living with congenital heart disease.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here