Liver transplant recipient Steve Griffin will ride to Brisbane to raise awareness of organ transplants.
LOOKING at Steve Griffin today, you’d never think he was close to losing his life as a young child.
Now 21, the former Mountain Creek State High School student, is studying secondary education at university, plays sport four times a week, skis every year and is living life to the full, thanks to a liver transplant at the age of six.
Today he’ll join more than 100 riders including celebrities and former world-class athletes swimmer Duncan Armstrong and cyclist Lorian Graham in the Cycle of Giving – Give a Gift of Life, as part of Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week from February 21 to 28.
They’ll cycle from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation, providing transplant recipients a chance to say thanks to families who said yes when asked to donate their loved ones’ organs.
The cycle is organised by Palmwoods woman Mary Long, in memory of her late husband Mal who died in April 2007.
Mal battled acute heart failure and underwent a heart transplant only to be diagnosed with cancer 18 months after the life-saving operation.
Before his death, Mal helped Mary organise the inaugural Cycle of Life.
Mary said it was important for them both to give something back for the precious gift of life they had received through the generosity of the donor family and transplant team.
Steve’s memories before and after his life-saving transplant are hazy due as he was very young. However, he understands he would not have survived had it not been for the family who agreed to give the gift of life.
“Their gift was fabulous. It gave me a second change of life and I’m living life to the fullest,” Steve said.
“I play tennis, touch football, netball and indoor soccer.
“I have so many goals to achieve – completing uni within the next six months, travelling to the London Olympics in 2012 and skiing overseas.”
His mother Anne remembers the time her son’s life was running out.
“We knew since Steve was born that he would most likely need a transplant,” Anne said.
“He was put on the trans plant waiting list, not long after this and received his transplant four months later.”
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