Joel one of eight children to star in Heartkids TV ad

ONLY eight children were chosen in Queensland, and Joel Rickard was one of them.

The Heartkids Foundation recently called for nominations for children who had experienced heart surgery as a baby to film a TV ad.

"I nominated Joel because I knew we would be in Brisbane at the time. We weren't really expecting anything out of it. We're so excited that he got this opportunity," mother Renae Rickard said.

"It was really well done; they were great with the kids."

Heartkids Foundation provides support, encouragement and hope to families of children with heart disease.

"It was good for Joel to meet other kids who had similar surgery, and it was nice to meet other parents who also experienced what we went through," Mrs Rickard said.

"Joel loved it. He took directions very well, and being the eldest there he got to do a lot of the speaking parts.

"The message they're relaying in the ad is 'help heart kids find a cure'. It's really an important cause which should be supported."

The advertisement is set to air in February. Eventually it will be a national ad.

If you are interested in donating to the not-for-profit organisation, go to heartkidsqld.org.au.