KEY POINTS:
When Rebecca Holder let her 9-month-old son Connor Carss be photographed for the annual Heart Children fundraising campaign she hoped the graphic image of his scar would prompt people to donate money for such a worthy cause.
Now, two weeks later the Silverdale mum has been forced to make a different kind of public plea _ this time to the thieves who stole the charity's donation boxes.
"I think it's really sad that someone would steal from a charity, especially when there are heart children and families in need," she told the Weekend Herald. "I hope the people that did this will return the money so it can go where it was needed in the first place."
Heart Children chief executive Garth Halliday said up to 10 donation boxes had been stolen from collection points around Auckland.
They normally collected about $100 to $150 from each box, so there could be around $1000 missing.
Connor's picture _ which shows a large scar running down his chest _ was on each of the 1000 boxes which were placed in ASB banks and Postshops around the country during the appeal week.
The campaign aimed to raise awareness about what the organisation _ which is not part of the Heart Foundation _ does and how it helps children suffering from heart problems.
"It's all about bringing to the New Zealand public's attention the 12 children who are born every week with a heart defect and the nine every week who are undergoing some sort of open heart surgery."
Appeal week, which ran during the last week of May, also aimed to raise funds for a nationwide family support service.
"Our campaign was all about `look at these kids having their chests opened, all we are asking you to do is to open your wallet'."
Mr Halliday said the campaign had run for several years but this was the first time any of the appeal boxes had been stolen.
"It might be something to do with the social situation at the moment and the economy and people who are struggling.
"You could say [the amount stolen] is not massive but I think the angle is that it's disgraceful and I personally was very upset to know that people felt the need to steal this money, which undoubtedly makes our job much harder."
Connor's mother said her family was supported financially _ through items such as petrol and food vouchers _ and emotionally by Heart Children and she was shocked to hear of the theft. She urged anyone with information to contact the police.
Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said while police were not surprised that someone would steal from a charity, they were "disgusted by such actions". She said "several strong lines of inquiry" were being followed.
www.heartchildren.org.nz
