Mount Maunganui Primary School pupils' hearty approach to fundraising has secured almost $300 for Bay of Plenty children and families suffering heart problems.

The pupils today collected $285 in gold coin donations as part of the Heart Kids Awareness Month in August.

Mount Maunganui Primary School house captains Finn Spillane, 11, Samantha Plane, 10, and Callum Toft, 11, with Heart Kids BOP chairperson Rachael Parkes and family support worker Alisha Grimmer with the donations. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Deputy principal Hadleigh Bensen says the children used the coins to create a heart shape outside the library.

'We wanted to show support and awareness for children who are suffering congenital heart disease.”

Eleven-year-old Callum Toft hopes the funds raised will help children in need.

'It's for the kids with a heart disease, so they can get better and do what we can.”

Bay of Plenty@Heart chairperson Rachael Parkes says funds raised will go towards the existing $1967 donated to the charity via the Heart Kids Awareness Stands set up around the city.

Racheal says the BOP organisation supports more than 110 families with children and adults born with a heart defect in the region.

'Congenital heart disease is actually New Zealand's most prevalent childhood illness.

'We also support children who develop heart defects in their early years as a result of rheumatic fever.”

According to Rachael, there are more than 30 different forms of congenital heart disease which can affect children and adults in many different ways, depending on the defect.

'Some children can be on monitoring only and other babies need surgery multiple times.

'As things progress they may need replacement valves, it all depends on the heart defect.

'Some of them later on will be facing heart transplants.”

To donate to Heart Kids New Zealand, text HEART to 2427 for a $3 donation. To donate to Bay of Plenty families with children suffering heart defects, visit www.givealittle.co.nz/org/heartkidsbop