Type one diabetes, a heart transplant and 95 per cent vision loss are not enough to keep Colleen Ashby from riding her bike.
In 2017, the mother of three was told she would need a heart transplant — a life-altering surgery which led to Ms Ashby spending four days in intensive care in an induced coma.
Five days later, as a result of a lack of blood and oxygen flow, Ms Ashby woke up with only 5 per cent of vision in her right eye, making her legally blind.
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READ NOW“I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason, and I am so grateful to have received a new heart,” she said.
“Losing my eyesight gave me a bigger purpose in life, and now I think of it as a blessing.”
Now, the 59-year-old is clocking 150km with her local tandem cycling group each month as part of training for an upcoming charity bike ride, Breaths and Beats Ride for Research.
A fundraising initiative conceived by the Heart and Lung Research Institute WA, the Breaths and Beats Ride for Research is a 29km ride taking place along the South Perth foreshore.
In 2023 the event raised $250,000, but this year organisers are aiming higher with a target of $1 million.
Last year, HLRIWA invited Ms Ashby to take part in the inaugural Breaths and Beats ride, which inspired her to join the Western Australian Tandem Cycling Advisory Council on regular community rides around Perth.
The HLRIWA, based at the Harry Perkins Institute at Fiona Stanley Hospital, aims to better the lives of heart and lung transplant recipients, and raises money for heart and lung research.
It is the only medical facility in WA undertaking this type of research.
HLIRWA chair Dr Warren Pavey said Breaths and Beats was “like no other charity bike ride”.
“Having team leaders who are organ transplant recipients brings home the reason why fundraising for the HLRIWA is so crucial,” he said.
“Team leaders like Colleen show everyone why medical research into advanced heart and lung disease is so important and how it has the power to change lives.”
Ms Ashby said she was looking forward to meeting other transplant recipients and medical professionals.
“The heart and lung transplant community are really special,” she said.
“We are all one big family.”
The Breaths and Beats Ride for Research will be held on Sunday, April 21.
More information can be found here.