ChristChurch Cathedral's ‘Heart Stopper Challenge Team’ literally broke the ice in Cathedral Square on Friday, 22 May – to help children with congenital heart disease.

Bishop Victoria Matthews and Andrew Rodford (from the diocesan office), along with Dean Peter Beck, Rev Craig Dixon, Nick Bridgman, Andrew Grenon and Chris Burn (Cathedral Choir), raised $2000 by enduring five numbing minutes in a tub of icy water.

Fortunately, there was a hot spa pool on site to aid recovery. The team was also revived by a recently arrived 'Official Teddy Bear' - Harper.

The money raised goes to help Heart Children NZ. In New Zealand one in every 100 children are born with heart disease – around 600 a year.