Team of organ donation recipients to tackle gruelling Tour of Margaret River bike ride

A team of organ-donor recipients will take part in the annual Tour of Margaret River for the first time in the road cycling race’s history. Team Transplant is made up of three liver recipients, a kidney recipient, a heart recipient and a living kidney donor. They will all take on the Tour of Margaret River this weekend to raise awareness around organ donation, and showcase what can be achieved after a transplant. For Jake Prince, 17, taking part is a chance to spread that message after his body went from strength to strength following a transplant at the age of 13. Now, cycling 100km on a weekend is something he simply enjoys. “Being a 12-year-old, and close to death was pretty confronting,” Jake told the Times. ‘Being able to spread the DonateLife message is also hugely important to me. “In one year, more than 450 relatives of registered organ donors declined permission to donate, as they were unsure of their relative’s wishes. “This statistic has got to change - I am going to be a part of that change. “I just finished high school this week and I’m looking to start a career in aviation maintenance in the Australian Air Force to do something that I enjoy and to earn money for a new bike. I’d also to travel to transplant games around the world spreading the organ donation message.” As a heart transplant recipient and a father of two, Aaron Lee said he aimed to be fit and healthy to teach others what a powerful gift being an organ donor can give to someone in need. “We are living proof of the second chance made available by a selfless act from a family grieving for the loss of their loved one - to save another life,” he said. “My biggest challenge was being unable to be a dad for the months leading up to my transplant — seeing my wife Emma have our first child with the thought of her having to face life as first-time parent, not knowing if I would be here to raise our child together. “I’ve been full-steam ahead continuing my full-time training since returning from the 2024 Australian Transplant Games in Canberra with three gold medals in cycling events. “I’ve put in some hard work getting plenty of hill sessions into my weekends with Steve, my coach at Hall Performance Academy, and am feeling some nervous excitement to showcase what us transplant recipients can do.” Liver recipient Peter Chwal took up cycling after his desire to “do stuff” grew while he was unable to keep active while waiting for his transplant. “Back in 2011 I needed a liver transplant for an autoimmune condition,” he told the Times. “I waited 15 months for that liver transplant. “Obviously during that timeframe I couldn’t be overly active, so the desire to do stuff built and ultimately post-transplant in 2013, I took up cycling with a fair bit of rigor. “I haven’t done anything for a while in terms of an event and thought it was a good challenge and opportunity.” Transplant Australia WA chair Troy Scudds said the team couldn’t wait to challenge themselves and raise awareness. “With more than 1800 Australians now waiting for a transplant, it is important to promote the positive message of the lives saved through the gift of life,” he said. “Every Australian can make a difference by registering as a donor. It takes just one minute to register at donatelife.gov.au but has the potential to give someone many years of extra life. “The Tour of Margaret River is a really challenging ride, but we’ve all faced some pretty big hurdles. We’re grateful to have given or received a second chance at life and we’re ready for those hills.” Event director Rebecca Cotton said Team Transplant was the living embodiment of what the Tour of Margaret River represents. “This event is all about being in a team,” she said. “We can achieve so much more when we work together. Team Transplant takes this notion to a whole new level. “These team members are profoundly connected by being transplant recipients and donors. They have had to overcome massive challenges in their personal lives, and have worked together to build a team that will compete in one of Australia’s most challenging road racing events. “All their family and friends are right behind them. We feel so privileged to welcome such a supportive community into our Tour of Margaret River family.” The multi-stage road race started with 31 riders in 2009 and will this year cover 207 kilometres in two Grand Pursuit Stages and one Queen Stage Road Race from November 1 to 3. It stretches through Margaret River, Donnybrook, Balingup, Nannup, Greenbushes and Busselton.