There were clever and appropriate little heart-shaped biscuits with icing sugar ''stitches'' across them among the many yummy things to eat at yesterday's ''Cuppa for a Heartkid'' fund-raising morning tea.
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Canberra mother of two, part-time public servant and dedicated runner Alison Senti (a few days ago she galloped through The Canberra Times Fun Run in a personal best of 43 minutes and 50 seconds) was there for the baby-enriched event at the new Centenary Women and Children's Hospital at Canberra Hospital.
She is about to run in the New York Marathon and is using this feat (it will be her third marathon) to do something heartfelt for HeartKids NSW-ACT. HeartKids provides support for families with babies born with heart defects.
The cause is very, very dear to her. It's not only that her own sister, Lauren (31 now), was born with four holes in her heart. It's also that her friend of 25 years, Kay Solari, eight months ago gave birth to a son, Massimo (''He's got such presence. Such charisma. I'm in love with him!'' Senti rejoiced yesterday) who has just undergone successful heart surgery.
''When I told people I was going in the New York Marathon'', Senti explained, ''it seemed to be causing quite a lot of interest and I thought I should use this opportunity. I need to harness all this interest for a good cause.
''And over the last few months my friend Kay and her husband Steve and her family have been going through a real struggle with their son Massimo who was born in January. And Kay's known me and my sister for 25 years. She already knew about our struggles, what we went through as a family with a daughter, a sister with a heart defect. And so I thought I really want to draw attention to HeartKids. Thirty years ago when Lauren was born there was no such support in Canberra. Now HeartKids is around to support the families. They provide information right at the crucial point when you get that terrible and horrifying diagnosis. You're in a kind of vacuum of information. You don't know what this means for you and your child, but HeartKids is there with basic simple information and with help. They come and speak to parents. That's why it struck such a chord for me. When my sister was born I can only try and imagine how terrifying it must have been for my parents to find their daughter [Lauren] needed open heart surgery.''
As yesterday morning's tea teemed with mothers and babies Senti reported that everyone who wanted to sponsor her could do so by finding her on her own fundraising page through the everyday hero website at http://everydayhero.com.au/alison-senti
''I was hoping for $3000 but I've already got $4200. I mean, how arrogant of me to think I can choose to do the New York Marathon! But the only reason I can is because I don't have these heart problems. So I thought I can at least raise some awareness.''
She expects the marathon to be thrilling fun. She's never been to the US before. In New York she's going to be a galloping tourist. ''It's a relatively flat course, so that pleases me greatly,'' she said. ''I get to see all five boroughs, and without having to use the subway.''
