Cowra motorcyclists invited to join organ donation awareness ride, Canberra, Australia

The Organ Donation Awareness Ride (ODAR) 2011 kicks off from the National Gallery of Australia Canberra at 11am Friday February 4.

A few riders are joining Cowra’s David Gough to ride to Canberra for the start but anyone else who wants to join him for the ride to Canberra is welcome.

They will be leaving from Morongla at 8am.

Melody Gough had a promising career as a photo-media Assistant Curator at the National Art Gallery in Canberra when her life was tragically cut short at the age of 26. David and Robyn’s Daughter died as a result of a motor vehicle accident near Boorowa NSW as she was returning home to Cowra on Christmas eve 2009.

As a registered organ donor Melody wished to donate organs and give the gift of life to other people. Her donations saved the lives of three critically ill people.

David has been inspired by Melody and her act of generosity to do something and so he has organised the 5,000km Organ Donation Awareness Ride (O.D.A.R.) in February 2011 which he hopes will encourage the public to understand that:

* Very few organs can be recovered for transplant as the donor needs to be in hospital care and;

* A donor’s registered wish can be denied by a next of kin.

These issues can be alleviated by donors taking two steps: registering their wish to be an organ donor via www.medicareaustralia.gov.au and just as importantly discussing the importance of their wish with their families to ensure those wishes are understood and complied with in the event of their death.

David plans to to ride his BMW GSR motorcycle from the National Art Gallery beginning at 11am on Friday February 4 2011 around NSW and finishing at Parliament house in Canberra at 11am on Friday February 25 during Donate Life Week 2011.

He will travel from Canberra to Bateman’s Bay and then on to Wollongong, Gosford, Newcastle, Bellingen, Grafton, Tweed Heads, Tenterfield, Goondiwindi, Collarenebri, Bourke, Cobar, Broken Hill, Mildura, Swan Hill, Shepparton, Albury, Wagga, Tom Groggin, Narrabarba, Bega, Moruya and then back to Canberra (about 5000km).

“This ride is more than a memorial to Melody; hopefully it will serve as a reminder to us all that one day we too may need a life giving organ donation,” David said.