Ms Tolua said she hoped that devotion would rub off on others as the foundation began working in with its area co-ordinators to put together its fundraising plans.
"We really need people to hit the streets of Hawke's Bay to collect life-saving funds, while enjoying the opportunity to be out in their community doing good," she said.
"It is our big two days."
She added that it was sobering to look at the statistics involving heart disease in this country, which indicated that in the short period of time that a volunteer was out collecting donations at least one New Zealander will have likely died of heart disease.
Heart Foundation medical director Gerry Devlin said heart disease accounted for around 6000 deaths a year.
"As a charity we really need the support of New Zealanders in their local communities so we can make more life-saving research into heart disease possible," Mr Devlin said.
"We need many thousands of collectors nationwide to help us raise funds during our Big Heart Appeal and these funds will be used to support heart-related research and specialist training for cardiologists who work in our communities throughout New Zealand."
Since 1970 the Heart Foundation, which is the country's leading independent funder of heart research, has invested about $60 million into research and specialist training.
Mr Devlin said the foundation offered a range of activities and programmes to help support the estimated 172,000 Kiwis currently living with heart disease.
"Plus educational programmes and campaigns that promote heart attack awareness and heart-healthy living."
Anyone wanting to help out the foundation with a few hours as a street collector on the Friday or the Saturday can make contact through heartfoundation.org.nz/volunteer or contact Ms Tolua on 833 7446.