09/05/2025
Hi, I’m Quade!
I’m 9 years old.
This year, I’m skipping for something that means more than I can really explain.
I’m skipping for my Poppy Goonrey.
I never got the chance to meet him.
He passed away before I was born — suddenly, without warning — from a massive heart attack.
He was only 49. My mum was just 22, and her brothers Truman and Tyler were only 18 and 17.
Her younger brother, my uncle, found him that day.
That moment changed our lives forever.
Even though I didn’t meet him, I feel him in the stories Mummy tells me.
She says he had the kindest heart and the biggest laugh.
He loved his family more than anything, and he would’ve been the kind of Poppy who never missed a footy game or a birthday. Not the present type, just a G’day mate, enjoy your day type, and “stop taking those ugly pills”
She tells me he would’ve adored all of us grandkids (especially being all boys). There's me (Quade), Tatum, G, and my little cousin, who is yet to enter this world.
Sadly, Poppy isn’t the only one in our family affected by heart disease. Several of his siblings have also battled serious heart conditions. It’s something that isn’t unheard of in our family — it’s part of our reality. And it’s exactly why we’re so passionate about raising awareness and funds.
In 2023, coronary heart disease claimed over 10,000 Australian lives — that’s one life lost every 20 minutes. It's still the leading cause of death in Australia.
And we don’t want other families to go through the same heartbreak.
That’s why I’m skipping — to raise money for the Heart Foundation, so they can keep doing the work that saves lives.
Every skip is for the people who didn’t get enough time.
- For the children who never got to meet their grandparents.
- For the mums and dads who carry grief while still being strong for their children.
- For the families still here, trying to make a difference before it’s too late.
If my skipping can help one person get more time with someone they love, I’ll skip my little heart out every day. If you’re reading this, thank you for being here.
If you’ve lost someone too, you’re not alone. We feel this with you. Link in story x
