Harpreet’s Fundraising Journey – A story of heartbreak, hope, and incredible courage
The day everything changed
“I’ll never forget that day,” Harpreet recalls.
“My dad, Harry a man of strength and resilience, someone who never complains, never shows weakness was crying out in unbearable pain. His screams were unlike anything we had ever heard from him. In the midst of his agony, he kept calling out my name “Harpreet, Harpreet” over and over again. That voice, so raw, so desperate, has never escaped me”
Within moments, their lives were thrown into chaos. Harry was rushed to hospital, where doctors told the family he had suffered a massive heart attack and might not survive.
“It was terrifying, heartbreaking, and humbling,” Harpreet says. “But it reminded us that love, resilience, and hope can carry us through the darkest of moments.”
A cross-border fight for survival
Harry’s condition was critical. After initial treatment at Flinders Medical Centre, he was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne to undergo advanced heart surgery — a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) procedure that would save his life.
For Harpreet, the weeks that followed were a blur of travel, sleepless nights, and worry.
“I was constantly travelling between Melbourne and Adelaide, trying to be there for both my dad, who was fighting for his life, and my mum, who was quietly battling serious health issues back home.”
While she spent close to 10 hours a day by her dad’s bedside, support from the Cardiology Service team here at Flinders and never wavered.
“Every day, my family and I felt deeply supported by Lee-Anne even when we were hundreds of kilometres away in Melbourne” she said.
“From the start, she embraced us with warmth, empathy, and unwavering support. She fought for my dad’s care as if he were her own, and we felt that love and advocacy every step of the way. Her encouragement helped us push through.
The care at Flinders was exceptional. Their swift action saved my dad’s life. We’ll forever be grateful to the entire team for giving us more time with someone we love so dearly.”
Honouring Mum’s legacy
In June 2025, Harpreet’s beloved mum, Varinder, passed away. “Her loss left our family heartbroken,” she says. “Mum was the one who pushed for that second opinion at Flinders and never stopped advocating for Dad’s care — even while battling her own health issues.”
So when the Cardiology Service team invited Harry to take part in the City-Bay Fun Run fundraiser, Harpreet saw it as the perfect way to honour her mother’s legacy.
“Supporting Flinders Foundation is something Mum would have wholeheartedly embraced. She lived to make a difference — through her community work, her kindness, and her endless generosity. Walking the City-Bay was my way of continuing what she started.”
Turning heartbreak into hope
Crossing the finish line of the 12km City-Bay was an emotional moment. “Seeing Dad there waiting for me was incredible — it felt like a full-circle moment. Mum would have been so proud,” Harpreet says.
Joined by her close friend Sarah, and surrounded by the Flinders team who had cared for her father, Harpreet felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. “It wasn’t just about running or fundraising. It was about healing, honouring my mum, celebrating my dad’s resilience, and feeling the power of community.”
Giving back for families just like hers
For Harpreet, fundraising for Flinders Foundation is deeply personal. “There are families across South Australia who have to travel interstate for life-saving care — often at enormous emotional and financial cost. No one should have to face that alone.”
Through her fundraising, she hopes to support other families with accommodation, travel costs, and everyday expenses during treatment. “Having that kind of help would have changed everything for us,” she says. “It’s not just financial support — it’s the gift of time with the people you love.”
“My hope is that our story reminds others they’re not alone — and that love, community, and compassion can carry us through even the darkest days.”
Harpreet’s courage and compassion are a reflection of everything Flinders Foundation stands for – supporting care, research, and families when they need it most.
You can get involved too
Whether as a fundraiser like Harpreet, as a generous donor, or as a volunteer, your contribution fuels patient care for families at Flinders.
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Flinders Foundation acknowledges the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Flinders precinct was established. We acknowledge the Kaurna people’s deep and ongoing connection to land, waters and community, and pay our respect to their Elders, past and present.
