Cycle of Giving:

Twenty years ago, the very first Cycle of Giving ride was held to raise funds and awareness for transplant research. This event started as a heartfelt expression of gratitude, two years after Mal Long received the precious gift of a stranger’s heart at The Prince Charles Hospital.  

In February 2004, Mary and Mal Long received a phone call that would forever change their lives.

“Nothing can prepare you for that call. It was a tumultuous time. A second chance of life and one of renewed hope for our family, but recognition that another family had to be experiencing tragedy and loss,” said Mary.

That day, Mal was able to receive a new heart to replace his heart that had been deteriorating over the decade prior. This priceless gift, a chance for him to have more days with his wife, Mary and their children.

“How do you ever express your gratitude to someone who, in such a time of crisis in their lives, is able to think of someone else and make that decision to donate organs? I’ll be forever grateful to his donor family,” said Mary.

Mal and his family made the most of their moments after his transplant. In 2005, Mal competed in several events, including lawn bowls and swimming at the World Transplant Games in Canada. There, they contemplated how they could give back in some way to thank Mal’s donor family and his transplant team, and to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation.

Donate to 2026 Cycle of Giving

Shortly after, the Cycle of Giving was born. In February 2006, 18 cyclists, mostly from Mary’s swim squad at the time, jumped on their bikes for the inaugural fundraising cycle.

“I hadn’t cycled since I was a kid on a bike, so riding 100 kilometres was a totally new experience for me.”

Mary describes this first event as “uncharted territory” and quite “informal”.

However, despite the less structured nature of the event, its meaning was significant, and there wasn’t much deliberation needed before the decision was made to do it again.

Unfortunately, though, shortly after this first Cycle of Giving, Mal received a terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Sadly, Mal passed away, but Mary vowed to continue the Cycle of Giving in his honour, and her deep sense of gratitude for Mal’s second chance and those who made it possible will always remain.

“I’ve always said to Sue, our donor’s wife, that while I was alive, I would continue as long as I could to honour the gift that they gave us. I was very honoured and humbled to have Sue’s son, Jeremy, accompany me on our ride.  

“I’ll also always be thankful to our transplant team,” she said.

Some of that medical team – along with other hospital staff- rode or supported the cycle by fundraising and cheering on riders.

Lesleigh Winks, Lung Transplant Coordinator at the Queensland Lung Transplant Service at The Prince Charles Hospital, took part in three Cycle of Giving rides.

“The Cycle of Giving was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and promote the transplant community at The Prince Charles Hospital. Bringing together patients, families, clinicians and the wider cycling community, the ride encouraged everyone with a love of cycling to get outdoors and enjoy the energetic, supportive atmosphere,” said Lesleigh.

“I have many fond memories of riding alongside friends, colleagues and transplant recipients, like Sheridan Darroch (pictured with Lesleigh below right). It was inspiring to share the annual event with people whose lives had been transformed by organ donation, making the event not only enjoyable but deeply meaningful.”

The event continued to gain momentum over the years due to Mary spreading the word and its significance for so many people impacted by organ donation and transplantation.

“Nobody knew much about the Foundation back then. Every year I went down and had posters and went down to wards – talked to them face to face in the hospital to get people behind them – the support was amazing,” said Mary.

“The ride grew to the fact that it wasn’t just a cycle. I also endeavoured to make something happen for those who didn’t ride, something at the hospital end – we had a criterium, a mini triathlon, etc. There was a run, and the pool was there, so we could include a swim leg. James, the physio, used to bring out the stationary bikes. The Queensland Irish Pipe Band would also play as riders crossed the finish line at the hospital, thanks to Bruce Grice.”

The ride started at the Sunshine Coast for a little over a decade, with the course taking riders through breathtaking scenery past the Glasshouse Mountains to Brisbane. Riders could choose shorter courses from other starting points, such as Caboolture and Redcliffe. Over that time, ride attendance swelled to around 650 riders.

“I will always appreciate that The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation agreed to take the Cycle of Giving to another level when I couldn’t.”

As it continued to grow in popularity and size, it was integrated into the Tour de Brisbane, which now accommodates over 5,000 riders in its annual event.

But in 2025, Mary took the ride back to where it first began and was joined by members of her club, the Sunshine Coast Bicycle Touring Club. This year, the ride marks its 20th anniversary, and as such, another ride will be held on the Sunshine Coast.

“Today, the event continues to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation – and funds vital research. The Cycle of Giving is, and always will be, a way for us to continue acknowledging Mal’s donor and their selfless family, as well as his transplant team. These are people who are always in my heart and mind for the cycle and will not be forgotten,” said Mary.

Cycle of Giving Grant

Staying true to the original spirit of the ride, funds raised through the Cycle of Giving as well as the Tour de Brisbane, continue to support vital transplant-related research that gives hope to patients and families.

Each year, this commitment is recognised through the Cycle of Giving Grant, awarded at The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Research Awards in honour of the event and the legacy it represents.

“Raising funds for research is extremely important. Researchers have difficulty securing funding for their projects. They can be at a crossroads, getting promising results, then money runs out.  The Cycle of Giving Grant supports heart research projects with the potential to improve patient outcomes. I wish I could raise more for these dedicated researchers,” said Mary.

In 2025, the Cycle of Giving Grant was awarded to Lauren Blake to investigate the molecular changes in hearts to understand which genes are involved in either damage or recovery, with the hope of unlocking new strategies to better protect donor hearts and increase the number of successful heart transplants.

“I am honoured to have received the Cycle of Giving New Investigators Grant – the first milestone in my research career. With this support, I am driven to furthering research focused on improving the lives of people with end-stage heart failure,” said Lauren upon receiving the grant.

In 2026, the Cycle of Giving Grant was awarded to Eden Kharrouba, who is working to reduce complications and improve outcomes for patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a type of advanced life support that temporarily takes on the roles of the heart and lungs. Specifically, the project supported by this grant aims to compare a novel pulsatile ECMO system with the current standard (ECMO plus IABP) in terms of cardiac workload.

“As an early-career researcher, having my project recognised and financially supported through the Cycle of Giving Award and the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation is incredibly motivating. I would especially like to acknowledge the remarkable contribution of Mary and all the cyclists who have joined her over the years. Their dedication and generosity help researchers like me who are working hard to advance healthcare and improve patient outcomes,” said Eden.

This research directly supports The Prince Charles Hospital’s position as one of Australia’s leading heart and lung hospitals, driving innovations that improve outcomes for patients locally and around the world.

“Mary’s leadership over nearly two decades has left an incredible mark, not only on our Foundation, but on the researchers, clinicians, patients and their families whose lives are touched by the work she’s inspired,” said Chloe Nguyen, Chief Communications and Philanthropy Officer.

“The support for the Cycle of Giving and for transplant research itself far exceeded my expectations,” says Mary.

This year, the Cycle of Giving is on Saturday, 25 July, with riders beginning their ride near the Kawana surf club.

You can find out more here.