Secondary students are raising awareness for heart care in Surrey
Published 7:00 am Monday, May 18, 2026
Fleetwood Park Secondary students are turning personal experiences into action for Surrey heart care.
MetroVan Health is a student-led non-profit organization built on raising awareness and funds for expanded cardiac care access in Surrey.
Through this non-profit, MetroVan Health members Anul Liyanage, Miles Wang and founder Aarin Saini are fundraising and growing awareness for the importance of cardiac catheterization labs (cath labs) in hospitals.
The initiative began after Saini reflected on the loss of his grandfather, who died after suffering a heart attack in a rural village in India where medical care was not as easily accessible.
“What motivated me to start MetroVan Health is basically my grandpa,” shared Saini.
Saini said that experience stayed with him and later pushed him to learn more about access to heart care closer to home.
“Cath labs are essential to heart care,” Saini said. “They are used for diagnosing and treating heart conditions.”
Cath labs are specialized hospital rooms equipped with diagnostic imaging technology used to help identify and treat cardiovascular conditions.
Before the opening of a cath lab at Surrey Memorial Hospital in December 2025, Saini explained that many Surrey patients requiring urgent cardiac procedures were transported to hospitals in Vancouver, adding valuable travel time during emergencies.
“These rooms are incredibly important because they could save a life,” Saini added.
MetroVan Health was founded in 2025 after these students learned Surrey previously had no cath labs despite the city’s rapidly growing population.
While a cath lab has since opened at Surrey Memorial Hospital, the students said awareness around cardiac care access remains important as surrounding communities continue to grow.
Miles Wang told Black Press Media that having more facilities available closer to residents could make a major difference during medical emergencies. “This could really increase survival chances,” said Wang.
The group officially partnered with Surrey Hospitals Foundation as a third-party fundraiser earlier this school year, allowing donations to go directly toward hospital initiatives while helping the students track their fundraising impact.
So far, the group has raised just under $500 through school-based fundraisers, including Freezie sales and a recent cookie sale held at Fleetwood Park Secondary.
“Other than money-wise for goals, I think we also have a goal of awareness because many don’t realize that this is an issue, one that is specific to our area of the Lower Mainland,” explained Wang.
Liyanage shared that it was volunteering at a care home that helped inspire him to get involved with this non-profit organization.
“I volunteer at a care home, and many of the seniors talked to me about having issues with heart disease and a lack of treatment for illnesses they had,” he said. “That made me want to help out with this organization.”
The students hope their efforts show other young people that even small actions can create meaningful change. “We’re just a bunch of high school students, and even donating small amounts can have a pretty big impact,” said Liyanage.
The non-profit hopes to eventually raise $5,000 while also expanding MetroVan Health’s reach to the community and other schools across Surrey and the Lower Mainland.
Future plans include larger community fundraisers and potentially hosting a gala or awareness event centred around heart health education and advocacy.
“We want people to get inspired and even start a small fundraiser just to get awareness to other schools and other communities,” shared Liyanage.
Saini explained that community involvement is a major part of what MetroVan Health hopes to encourage moving forward. “I just think people should be more involved in their community and actively trying to make it a better place for everyone else around.”
The students also hope their campaign encourages people to take care of their own health. “Money is something you can put into whenever you want, but health is number one,” said Saini.
Wang echoed his message by saying that awareness and collaboration can help create long-term change.
“If we can contribute all our efforts and raise more awareness and get more people to come together to commit towards one cause that everyone can get behind, then we can really cause major changes in the world,” said Wang.
MetroVan Health plans to continue fundraising and bringing awareness through their initiative.
You can learn more about the non-profit through their Instagram page at MetroVanHealth or donate to their cause at surreyhospitalsfoundation.crowdchange.ca/126799.