After Pāpāmoa widower Gordon Cadman lost his wife of 44 years to a heart attack, he learned he could help others who had been through a similar “traumatic” experience.

The 73-year-old has been volunteering at the Heart Foundation for the past three years.

“Volunteering certainly helps you, and you meet so many people,” he said.

“You certainly don’t want to sit around, and you realise there’s a whole lot of people out there who you can help and talk to, and just share your experience with.”

’A horrible thing to go through’

Cadman told the Bay of Plenty Times his wife, Diane, developed a heart condition that meant she had “poor” blood circulation throughout her body.

“What happens is you get a build-up in your arteries and then … you get blockages.”

He said poor circulation between her foot and knee meant her right leg went “rotten” and had to be amputated, leaving her unable to walk.

Diane Cadman, pictured in 2016.

Cadman said Diane used a wheelchair for about five years.

One day, “the heart packed up”.

“She had a heart attack here one day and that was it.”

Diane died in June 2021.

“It’s a horrible thing to go through … but once you’ve got through it and you’ve got all your emotions back under control, you should share your experience with other people, because it can help them through what is a very traumatic experience.”

After Diane died, Cadman thought, “I’ll go out and do something.”

“What I’ll do is volunteer for the Heart Foundation.”

In February, Cadman will be at the forefront of the Foundation’s Big Heart Appeal street collection in Pāpāmoa, serving as a volunteer area co-ordinator for the fourth year.

He found the experience “very social” and fun.

Cadman said the Heart Foundation did “fantastic work” benefiting many people in Tauranga.

His message for others with regard to encouraging them to volunteer would be to “get out and get involved in your community”.

‘The number-one killer’

The Big Heart Appeal is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

The foundation is calling for volunteers to be street collectors on February 21 and 22 for the appeal.

In a press release, the foundation’s medical director Dr Gerry Devlin said one million New Zealanders were living with cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure.

“It’s still the number-one killer, in New Zealand and globally,” he said.

“Our work has never been more urgent.”

Devlin said funds raised helped the foundation support research that resulted in improved treatments and medications, and invest in overseas training for young cardiologists so “word-class care” could be offered in New Zealand.

“Outcomes for those affected by heart attacks and other heart conditions have greatly improved thanks to Heart Foundation-funded work, but there is still much to be done.”

Devlin said there were “significant gaps” in research, diagnosis and care of women with heart disease.

“It is an area we are investing in on a national and international scale, and we hope this research will make a major impact on women’s cardiovascular health.”

To volunteer, visit the foundation’s website.

Lower your risk of heart disease

• Don’t smoke

• Keep physically active

• Eat food for a healthy heart, such as fruit and vegetables

• Cut back on junk food, takeaways and food or drink high in sugar, salt or saturated and trans fats

• Manage stress

• Manage weight

• Manage high blood pressure

• Manage cholesterol

Source: Heart Foundation.

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.