Icy challenge raises thousands for Heart Kids

Tracey Lithgow Collins jumps out of the freezing cold water with a huge smile spread across her face.

It's the fourth time she has completed a Heart Stopper Challenge, which raises money for Heart Kids New Zealand.

The cause affects her personally as her 5-year-old son, Kalen Collins, is a heart kid.

He was born with a heart defect and has had three major surgeries in his short life.

"We didn't know Kalen had a defect until he was three, so it was really hard," she said.

Kalen Collins supports his team taking part in the Heart Stopper Challenge for Heart Kids. Photo/ Andrew Warner

Lithgow Collins and her team of friends and family members travelled from Putaruru to take on the challenge of sitting in icy cold water for six minutes.

Seventeen teams gathered at Coronation Park in Mount Maunganui to take the icy dip and more than $13,000 was raised for Heart Kids New Zealand.

"It's great to get awareness out there for Heart Kids," Lithgow Collins said.

Heart Kids Bay of Plenty chairperson Rachael Parkes said the event was created to bring awareness of the journey heart kids go through all over the country.

"Twelve babies are born every week with a heart defect and more than 550 major heart surgeries are performed every year," she said.