600-kilometre cycle to provide others a second chance at life
Published 10 March 2016GREAT OCEAN ROAD, VICTORIA: The 2016 Tour de Transplant – a 600-kilometre, five-day cycling challenge – has raised $180,000 so far for Heart and Lung Transplant Trust (Victoria) (HLTTV).
The biennial tour – led by Australian cycling legend and the first non-European to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, Phil Anderson OAM – raises money to provide subsidised accommodation for heart and lung transplant recipients and families during post-surgery recovery.
Thirty five riders, including four transplant recipients, tackled the 600-kilometre course that made its way from Warrnambool to Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road.
It represents a kilometre for every regional Victorian and interstate heart and lung transplant family that has needed help with accommodation at Melbourne’s The Alfred Hospital since 1989.
Major sponsor Plenary Group had two employees, Damien Augustinus and Carl Retschko, complete the epic journey, raising more than $36,000 for the cause through their own efforts and Plenary sponsorship.
Damien said he was honoured to have been involved and proud to have successfully completed the physically-challenging ride.
“I have seen the fantastic work HLTTV does to support transplant families during what is an incredibly traumatic experience,” Damien said.
“HLTTV is run entirely by volunteers so every dollar goes directly to supporting transplant recipients and their families.
“My very close friend and tour organiser Jon Rolfe is a double lung transplant recipient, so it is great to be involved with such inspiring people for such a deserved cause.”
To make a tax-deductible donation in support of Heart and Lung Transplant Trust (Victoria) visit http://www.tourdetransplant.org.au/
About the Second Chance Accommodation Program
The Alfred Hospital is Australia's leading transplant hospital for adults and children. For three months post-transplant, recipients need to attend frequent, often daily, check-ups and rehabilitation, which is vital to recovery and long-term survival. For those outside of Melbourne, staying close to the hospital can be expensive, and add significant financial burden at an already difficult time. The Second Chance Accommodation Program helps subsidise accommodation costs to make staying near The Alfred affordable for transplant families http://www.hlttv.org.au/about-us/second-chance-accommodation-program
Image: Plenary Group’s Damien Augustinus (L) and Carl Retschko (R) with cycling legend Phil Anderson at the 2016 Tour de Transplant
Chris WhitefieldExecutive Director, Communications
+61 3 8888 7754
+61 418 530 806
chris.whitefield@plenary.com