Hole In A Heart Bicycle Ride Islamabad – 2017

PCHF (Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation) is a non-conventional NGO, which does not use donations from the public for their administrative and operational expenses. They have financially supported heart surgeries of more than 560 deserving children all across Pakistan. Each surgery costs more than Rs. 400,000. Their goal is to eventually build a not-for-profit Children Heart Hospital. Through this ride, they wanted to spread awareness amongst the general public about the cause and their future goals. Hundreds of people belonging to different parts of the country participated in this event. Free shirts were given to all the participants who had signed up with the organizers.

Kluchit.com, PakWheels.com, Careem, and several other organizations belonging to several different industries joined hands with PCHF to support the event, which was held on the 29^th of January, 2017. The second leg of this event will be held in Lahore on the 12^th of February, 2017. This event is organized in Pakistan as a part of the International Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week, which is held each year from the 7^th of February till the 14^th of February, to raise awareness about Congenital Heart Disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD), also known as a congenital heart anomaly or congenital heart defect, is a problem in the structure of the heart that is present at birth. Signs and symptoms depend on the specific type of problem. Symptoms can vary from none to life-threatening. It has been found that more than 1.5 million children are born around the world every year with this disease. Far too many – the vast majority – do not yet have access to the heart care which could save their lives. PCHF (Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation) is the only organization in Pakistan that’s working hand in hand with the global congenital heart disease awareness week and has been organizing awareness campaigns since 2015.