When Cherie Clark found out she had a life-threatening hereditary heart defect she immediately urged her family to get checked.
And when the same defect was found in her mother and a heart issue identified in her sister, Clark became passionate about raising awareness around heart conditions.
The Hamilton mother-of-two was training for a marathon in 2013 when she fainted at lights in Hamilton and knocked herself out.
An accident and emergency doctor discovered a heart murmur that Clark knew about but had been told it was "as common as a cold".
"But he said, 'I'd like to get that checked out', so if it hadn't been for a very thorough doctor I think I'd never have known."
Clark, then 44, was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAVD). She realised the death of her grandfather at age 48 and his brother at age 46 from heart attacks was linked.
"My grandfather died when I was only a few months old. I just figured it was acoincidence until I was diagnosed."
Clark's heart valve has only two prongs instead of three, so her aortic valve does not close tightly, causing blood to leak back into the left ventricle.
The longer crucial surgery is delayed, the more damage is done to the heart.
Clark had heart surgery that year to replace the valve with a pig valve.
Her mother, Faye Copping, now 70, was then diagnosed with the same defect and had the same surgery in 2016.
Clark's sister Wendy Wickliffe, 53, does not have BAVD but is being monitored for abnormal heart issues.
"I insisted on my family getting checked. I said, 'You all have to get yourselves checked. We can't ignore this. We've got a family line, this is hereditary'."
An uncle also had a heart attack in his 40s while running a marathon in Japan, and survived.
"I also tried to encourage my cousins."
Clark's 12-year-old twins Scout and Anneliese, were checked for the defect at the earliest possible age three years ago and were found to be free of it.
"We were very, very relieved. I think I cried the most that day."
Next weekend Clark will raise money for the Heart Foundation when she runs the Jennian Homes Mother's Day Fun Run/Walk at Hamilton Gardens.
"Running is kind of my happy place."
After Clark's heart operation she suffered from anxiety and the fear of the procedure's success and lifespan of the valve.
"Running is actually the thing that helps keep me calm. It helps me healthwise and it helps me mentally as well and on top of that it's such a good cause."
The fun run/walk will take place at 30 locations nationwide on Mother's Day.
Clark, who has secured sponsorship for the 5km run, will also run the Auckland Marathon this year.
She is conscious her valve has a limited lifespan and said hopefully when that time comes a valve can be added to the one already there. If not the old one will be replaced.
Her advice to anyone who has a family history of heart trouble is not to ignore it.
"Talk to your GP, get them to check your heart out. For me I was lucky because all of a sudden I was able to get a new valve. If I hadn't known I could have been out one day and that could've been me."
Heart disease is the single biggest killer of Kiwi women, claiming 3000 women's lives each year, according to the Heart Foundation.
The Jennian Homes Mother's Day run aims to raise money for the Heart Foundation, to help stop deaths from heart disease, many of which are premature and avoidable.
For details or to buy tickets visit heartfoundation.org.nz