There is an illusion amongst the youth in South Africa that only older people suffer from heart conditions and that needs to change... fast

Millions of South Africans have lost loved ones due to heart disease and stroke, and there are many stories too, of people who have survived and gone on to change their own lives and the lives of others. A new campaign is creating a platform to share our stories and help save lives. Through online platforms like Facebook, the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA is inviting the public to share our stories and honour those we have lost to heart disease or stroke.

As a young person Simba realised the positive effects that a healthy lifestyle can have on one’s quality of life, and now nearly having lost a close friend to a heart attack, Simba Mhere, winner of the Top Billing Presenter Challenge, is an advocate for healthier choices in SA.

He says his parents encouraged him to be active and healthy from a very young age and today he lives a very balanced life.

Simba has become an ambassador for the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa’s (HSFSA) awareness campaign, called "I Love This". It is one of the biggest heart and stroke awareness campaigns launched in the country yet and aims to raise funds for the Foundation’s free national community programmes, support research and save lives.

Considering 80% of deaths, pain and suffering caused by heart disease and stroke are lifestyle-related and hence preventable, the HSFSA and Simba are calling on SA to prevent the preventable.

He has been joined by a number of other celebs, including Gareth Cliff, L’loyd Cele, Jo-Ann Strauss, Saskia Falken, Mark Pilgrim and Michelle Garforth-Venter, to help drive home the message and raise funds to save lives.

The South African public can buy the campaign’s “I Love This” stickers at Clicks stores around the country throughout the month of March. Each sticker costs R5 – members of the public can then place their sticker on something they really love, take a picture, and upload it on the campaign’s Facebook site, email or MMS to stand a chance to win a R10 000 experience of their choice.

The Foundation has asked the South African public to share their stories on Facebook by going to www.facebook.com/ilovethis.sa.

Heart and Stroke Foundation: Have you always lived a healthy lifestyle and what does that entail?
Simba: My parents were great athletes when they were younger. They both come from a rural background so healthy eating was the norm. With me growing up in Johannesburg and pursuing my career as an athlete, I had to discipline myself to eat healthy and exercise regularly in order to achieve my goals. When I stopped running, living healthily was already in my nature. Today I keep fit by training six days a week.

Heart and Stroke Foundation: It is difficult to live a healthy lifestyle - what kind of advice would you give people who are looking to change the way they live, but don't know where to start?
Simba: The best thing I can think of is visiting your local gym and speaking to one of the fitness consultants who will advise you on a proper training programme and eating plan based on your body type. But exercise is not only about going to the gym. You can also dance, take walks, swim, or even do something as simple as gardening.

Heart and Stroke Foundation: Why do you support this campaign?
Simba: I support the campaign because I see that South Africa is fast becoming one of the unhealthiest countries in the world. There is an illusion amongst the youth that only older people suffer from heart conditions and that needs to change fast. More personally, a while ago, a very close friend of mine almost passed away from multiple heart attacks. He never exercised and never cared much for what he ate. That was his wake up call – it shouldn’t be ours.

Heart and Stroke Foundation: Do you have a message to South Africans about the importance of living healthy lives?
Simba: One in three men and one in four women will suffer from a heart condition before the age of 60. No matter whether you are overweight, skinny, tall or short, all you need to do is two simple things to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease – exercise regularly and eat well. The hardest part is getting off the couch.