Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea has helped kick start the annual Heart Foundation Doorknock appeal with a personal donation and urged local residents to get behind the campaign.
Mr O'Dea said he backed the Doorknock Appeal because he wanted to help the Heart Foundation to fund life saving research and promote health in the community.
"I was disturbed to learn that heart disease is the number one killer of Australian men and women," Mr O'Dea said.
"I realised that I could be helping someone close to me or in the local community, so I'm urging everyone to please dig deep and make a generous donation when a Heart Foundation volunteer knocks on your door this September.
"Most of the Heart Foundation's funding comes from donations from the public and is essential to helping reduce the suffering and death caused by heart disease in Australia.
"I support the Heart Foundation as an independent charity that funds world class research, supports health professionals and promotes health in the community.
"This year in NSW alone, the Heart Foundation has funded more than $2.1 million for essential medical research at local research centres. Money raised by the 2012 Doorknock Appeal will help them fund critical research and community projects to improve awareness, prevention and treatment of heart disease," Mr O'Dea said.
To recognise Heart Foundation volunteers and open your doors with confidence, you can check the collector is wearing a badge with the Heart Foundation logo and the words Volunteer Collector Official Identification Badge. The badge also has the volunteer's ID number and an expiry date of 30 September. Collectors will also have an official receipt book and a small Heart Foundation bag.
All donations $2 and over are tax-deductible and the Heart Foundation Doorknock volunteer can issue supporters with a receipt.
If not at home when a Doorknock volunteer calls, credit card donations can be made directly on 1800 55 22 55 or by visiting www.heartfoundation.org.au/doorknock.
