By NICOLE VALICEK
A COSTUME shop with a big heart is supporting a cause worthy of a king and queen.
Court Jester in Laverton North has agreed to donate two of its costumes, the king and queen of hearts, to help raise money for a Heart Foundation charity fundraising event in Taylors Hill.
For costume shop owner Shantelle Gauci, the event is close to her heart, with its organiser Matthew Spiteri, family.
“It’s a charity that’s close to us. If it wasn’t for them (the Heart Foundation) god knows where he would be,” she said.
“I was happy to donate.”
The event was organised and will raise money for the Heart Foundation by Mr Spiteri, the cousin of Ms Gauci’s fiancé.
Three days after he was born, Matthew had lifesaving heart surgery including a constricting band placed on his pulmonary artery.
Still a tiny baby, the next month he had open-heart surgery and at three years old, he underwent a Fontan repair – used to treat a variety of different congenital heart defects.
As a 16-year-old Mr Spiteri’s heart started beating too fast, resulting in another hospitalisation.
After a routine process to return his heart to its proper rhythm, he had heart attack in the hospital bathroom and went in a coma.
He woke up after a week.
Today Mr Spiteri has a tube in his upper body to help his blood circulate, is on blood-thinning medication and has blood test every few weeks to monitor his cardiac health.
Mr Spiteri encouraged more businesses in the West to donate auction and raffle events for the heart Foundation fund-raising night.
The charity event will be on 26 October from 6.30pm at the Taylors Lakes Hotel. Cost: $60 adults and $25 children. Dinner, beer, wine and soft drinks included. Tickets: 0414 822 474 or see www.djgenesis.com.au for details.
