Transplant Australia and The Event Crew are delighted to introduce the very first Transplant Australia Wave at the Caloundra Triathlon this weekend as part of the QLD Tri Series.
Transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and supporters will come together on the Sunshine Coast this Sunday in a wave of second chances, gratitude and hope at the Caloundra Triathlon.
The Transplant Australia Wave will be held in both the Enticer (300m swim, 10km cycle, 2km run) and Sprint (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) categories with individual and team participants welcome. The Wave will be a chance for the transplant community to celebrate and showcase the benefits of the gift of life.
The Transplant Australia Wave includes transplant recipients, nursing staff from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital Intensive Care Unit, donor families, and supporters. One such transplant recipient is Sunshine Coast resident Adam Gerrie.
Adam received a lifesaving kidney transplant in 2019. After being diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure in 2018, Adam’s health rapidly declined until his dad, Glen, gave him the ultimate gift of life. Since his kidney transplant, Adam has gone from strength to strength, but the best highlight was becoming a father.
His biggest athletic achievement so far was winning six medals for Australia at the World Transplant Games last April, but after the Games he began looking for his next challenge. That was when he approached Transplant Australia with idea of having a Transplant Wave at his local triathlon. “The World Transplant Games was such a special experience because I got to not only compete but also promote the benefits of organ and tissue donation. When I heard about the Caloundra Triathlon, I knew I wanted to get the whole transplant community involved so I went to Transplant Australia for help,” said Gerrie.
“This will be my first triathlon and I’m so proud to be representing the transplant community. I hope we can show everyone the life changing impact that organ and tissue donation has.”
Transplant Australia CEO Chris Thomas was amazed to see the level of interest and is hopeful that the Transplant Australia Wave will be available at many future triathlon events. “This is the inaugural Transplant Australia wave and we have just been overwhelmed by the number of registrations we have received,” Thomas said. “The Transplant Australia wave will bring members from every corner of the transplant community together in a celebration of life.”
“Organ and tissue donation is the ultimate gift of life and every one of the transplant recipients competing this Sunday are a testament to that,” said Thomas.
Transplant Australia has been working hard to promote triathlons and increase participation in the transplant community.
“It’s been fantastic to see the continued momentum of participation since the inaugural triathlon at the World Transplant Games in Perth, April 2023. Transplant Australia is looking forward to providing more triathlon opportunities for transplant recipients including at the Australian Transplant Games which will be held in late 2024,” Thomas said.
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