Dozens of cyclists have gathered to ride and raise funds and awareness for transplant research at the 2025 Cycle of Giving on the Sunshine Coast.
The event was launched by Mary and Mal Long nineteen years ago, shortly after Mal received a heart transplant – a priceless gift from a stranger that gave him a second chance at life.
This year, the legacy of the event lives on. On August 23, 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.
“The Cycle of Giving recognises that behind every heart transplant is a family who made a most selfless decision in their darkest moments,” said Mary.
“We ride in honour of their courage and in gratitude for the gift of life they have given to others.”
2025 Cycle of Giving: Raising Funds for Transplant Research
At that very first ride in 2006, eighteen cyclists – mostly members of Mary’s swim squad at the time – pedalled for the important cause.
The ride was held on the Sunshine Coast for a little over a decade, with the course taking riders through breathtaking scenery all the way to Brisbane. In 2019, the Cycle of Giving continued to increase in popularity and size and was integrated with the Tour de Brisbane.
In August 2025, members of the Sunshine Coast Bicycle Touring Club joined Mary at this truly special event, which has brought the community together with generosity and heart since its inaugural ride in 2006.
“Today, the event continues to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation—and funds vital research,” said Mary.
“We ride together for hope, research and community.”
Funds support the Cycle of Giving Transplant Research Grant, a vital grant awarded annually to a dedicated researcher at The Prince Charles Hospital.
“Mary is affectionately known as the Queen of Hearts, and the Cycle of Giving has not only spread awareness about organ transplantation, but, over the past two decades, it has also helped to fund some significant work by researchers we support. Community events like this one can truly make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many people,” said Chloe Nguyen, General Manager of Community, Marketing and Engagement at The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.
2025 Cycle of Giving Grant Recipient Lauren Blake
Lauren Blake, who is a student with the Critical Care Research Group, received the grant this year.
Lauren’s project is exploring how to improve the health of donor hearts retrieved after circulatory death (DCD), a process that, while expanding the pool of available donor hearts, can lead to greater heart damage due to a lack of oxygen during retrieval.
The research focuses on the preservation method called Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE). Optimised for clinical use by the Critical Care Research Group’s Living Heart Project, HOPE pumps nutrient-rich fluid through the heart after it’s removed from the donor, helping reduce injury.
“I am honoured to have received the Cycle of Giving New Investigators Grant – the first milestone in my research career. With the support of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, I am driven to furthering research focused on improving the lives of people with end-stage heart failure,” Lauren Blake said.
Supporting the Cycle of Giving in 2025 and beyond
The fundraising tally currently stands at over $8,500, and there’s still time to donate. Click here to show your support for his important cause.
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the Cycle of Giving.
“I am so proud of the impact this event has had so far, and I’m hopeful that the community continues to support the ride and will embrace this significant milestone,” said Mary.
