This weekend, thousands of riders will be taking to the streets of Brisbane in the Tour de Brisbane 2026, a one-of-a-kind closed-road ride.
As the key charity partner of the Tour de Brisbane 2026, every dollar raised for The Common Good supports transplant research at The Prince Charles Hospital. Research that could help save the life of someone you know and love.
We caught up with team A Change of Heart to hear why FUND-RIDING matters so much to them.
Meet team A Change of Heart
They’re FUND-RIDING for Paul, a dad and husband, who received a life-saving heart transplant in 2021, close to Valentine’s Day. Their team’s name couldn’t be more fitting.
You’ll spot them on the course in their iconic giraffe-patterned riding jerseys.
“Dad came down really quickly with acute heart failure,” said his daughter, Jacqueline.
“Before that, he was fit, healthy, cycling, and kayaking. We didn’t see it coming. Within two weeks, he was bedridden in the ICU, and a heart transplant was the only option.”
Year after year, they ride because every pedal stroke helps support transplant research at The Prince Charles Hospital, giving people like Paul a second chance at life.
“I guess the condition, if I had it 20 years ago, I probably wouldn’t be here. But a lot of research has gone into developing drugs and methods… It’s turned me from probably not surviving to surviving. The Common Good are very transparent about where your money goes,” said Paul.
The research you help support keeps families together like Paul’s.
Kirsty is taking on the Tour de Brisbane for The Common Good, fund-riding for her good friend Rachael (Paul’s daughter).
When asked why she keeps coming back to ride year after year, Kirsty didn’t hesitate, “My good friend Rachael experienced her dad needing an urgent heart transplant. I saw how much strain it put on the family. It shocked me that someone fit and healthy could suddenly need to be kept alive by two life-support machines. Without a heart transplant, he wouldn’t be here today – the easiest way to show support was fund-riding to help families like theirs and increase research.”
Now, she’s turning her experience into action, “I tell people Rachael’s dad’s story, and others like him. Everyone knows someone who’s been impacted. The more awareness we create, the better. You never know if this could happen to you or someone you love.”
To donate, or to support a rider, please click here.
