Since launching in 2016, the “From the Heart” collection has raised over $10,000 for the Heart Foundation. You can explore the entire “From the Heart” collection here, which includes my signature gold heart necklace.
PRESS RELEASE / MARCH 17 2016
In conjunction with the Heart Foundation, Marina Antoniou has designed a heart inspired necklace to help raise women’s heart health awareness.
“The statistics are frightening – three times as many women die of heart disease compared to breast cancer and it is currently claiming the lives of 24 Australian women per day” says Marina.
Marina’s necklace entitled ‘From the Heart’, is inspired by the ideas of connection, support and balance – three things that helped her go from struggle to strength in her own personal health journey.
Heart disease, and more broadly cardiovascular disease, can affect women of all ages and can take many forms. Marina’s health issue was triggered by a combination of an underlying genetic blood clotting condition and taking the oral contraceptive pill. “It was in 2009 at the age of 23, when I first became aware that something was wrong. What started as months of breathlessness and struggling to walk up the stairs developed into fatigue and feeling generally unwell,” Marina said.
“I was told I had a chest infection and that I’d be better soon, but my symptoms continued. Weeks later, I woke with excruciating pain in my chest,” she added. Marina went straight to hospital and was found to have multiple blood clots in her lungs. After 6 months of taking daily blood thinners, she was given the all clear, but a few months later her condition returned and she now be on medication for the rest of her life.
Fast forward six years and Marina is still taking her medication daily, has not had any further blood clotting, and now she feels like she wants to raise awareness to help other women.
Heart Foundation CEO Kerry Doyle said she was delighted that Marina had reached out to the Heart Foundation to share her story and to become actively involved. “What has developed from that initial contact has become so much more – Marina is now an integral member of our Women and Heart Disease program “Making the Invisible Visible”, injecting her ideas, energy and talent to help make other women aware of the risk factors, warning signs, symptoms and proactive prevention related to heart disease. Marina is living proof that heart disease takes many forms and that this is a condition which can impact women of all ages, including younger women. ” she said.
The pendant is made up of two tear shaped halves, which overlap and come together to form a sculptural shape resembling a heart. Made in Sydney and available in sterling silver, 9 carat rose gold, yellow gold and white gold, each pendant is given a soft, satin finish by hand. The necklace is also available with a single Australian argyle diamonds or sapphire.
“With these heart necklaces, I hope to start a conversation and educate women about the importance of their own heart health and remind them of the risk factors associated with heart disease. I also hope to bring light and positivity to those that have been personally touched by cardiovascular disease.”
A percentage of the sale of every necklace is donated directly to the Heart Foundation’s Women and Heart Disease campaign, “Making the Invisible Visible”. ($50 or every sterling silver necklace and $100 for a gold heart necklace).
“I live with my illness under control and for that I am grateful, every day. I am healthy, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. If however I can help stop one other young woman from experiencing heart related illness, I will be eternally happy.”
Watch Marina tell her story HERE
