Gather Round for a Warnie heart check
The legacy of Shane Warne lives on in Adelaide with plans to save lives by screening at least 9000 football fans for heart risks at AFL’s Gather Round.
The SA government, the Shane Warne Legacy, SiSU Health and Flinders University will offer the free Shane Warne Legacy Heart Checks at the Gather Round games at Adelaide Oval, Norwood and Mt Barker as well as in Elder Park between April 4-7.
Warne’s son Jackson said it was an honour to bring the lifesaving initiative to SA after its success at last year’s MCG Boxing Day Test.
“The whole family is very proud of what the Shane Warne Legacy has achieved, it has turned such a negative into a positive,” he said.
“People were saying at the Boxing Day Test they probably would not have had the screening done if not for the Shane Warne Legacy. Then to hear people say Shane Warne saved my life is the most incredible thing.
“Dad‘s got so many happy memories here, he had
Amazing Adelaide, it’s Gather Round, if we can just get as much of these heart checks out to as many Australians as possible, that’s a positive for us.
“Its gonna be a great week, we’re so excited to be here and to save lives.”
He urged all footy fans to get around the initiative and take their health into their own hands.
“Cardiovascular disease is one of the most curable and preventable in the world, it directly correlates back to your lifestyle and your habits,” he said.
“It’s a free, non-invasive four minute heart test, you can keep your clothes on and in under five minutes you’ll know your numbers.
“Once you know your numbers, it’s about owning them and being accountable for your lifestyle and habits.”
Warne says he hopes to test at least half a million Australians by the end of the year.
“That’s our goal, Dad always said aim big, dream big, be delusional because that’s how he was,” he said.
“I think we’re actually at over 100,000 tests overall.”