Lawrence Camenzuli isn’t the type of person who can say no. So, when the Heart Foundation asked Mr Camenzuli to donate his time, he happily obliged.
That was 11 years ago … and until he no longer has the time, the Melton West man will continue door-knocking to raise money for the Heart Foundation.
“To tell you the truth, it’s really not that bad,” Mr Camenzuli says. “Some people are terrified of door-knocking … but most people are reasonable to talk to. Some are generous, and some have a bit of a story to tell.”
About 15,000 Australians die every year as a result of sudden cardiac arrests. Mr Camenzuli hopes the money he’s raised over the past decade has helped lives. His father died as a result of a heart attack 30 years ago.
“Doctors tried to put a pacemaker in,” he recalled.
“The pacemaker worked but, unfortunately, there was a clot that developed in his heart and went into the brain, which caused a stroke.
“Within four weeks, he was dead.
“I was disappointed in those days … because doctors didn’t say: ‘Wait a second, he’s had a heart attack, let’s start blood thinning measures – there might be clots developing’.
“So. I hope people can now reap some of the benefits from the money raised and research done since.”
For more information about the Heart Foundation’s Big Heart Appeal, to donate or to volunteer, visit bigheartappeal.org.au.
