In a world that grants us opportunities to succeed no matter our situation, Hornsby local Wayne Broady is looking to take full advantage of his chance to inspire his community, when he looks to participate at the upcoming World Transplant Games in Perth.

In 2017 at the age of 52, Broady suffered a heart attack whilst in the middle of a swimming session at the local Hornsby pool despite having never shown any history or signs of heart issues. Following the efforts of paramedics and lifeguards on that November day, Broady was able to be saved, and was then relegated to months of treatment at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. 

And after enduring a period of time with an electric pump to assist blood circulation to his heart, Wayne’s story, like so many others who will gather in Perth for the Games, turned into one of motivation following a successful heart transplant in 2018. According to Transplant Australia, over 1,850 people are on the transplant waiting list in this country at any one time.

The World Transplant Games 2023 is a week-long event, which will take place from the 15th to the 21st of April in Perth. This edition of the game takes place 45 years following its first instalment in Portsmouth, UK, and will see Australia hosting it for the third time, following Sydney in 1997, and the Gold Coast in 2009.

The games, aside from the participatory and competitive aspects, are a celebration of individuals and their surrounding support groups who have endured some of life’s toughest circumstances and who have been granted second chances to shine in life. The event features a variety of sporting activities, which range from traditional competition sports like Athletics, Basketball, Swimming and Volleyball, while also incorporating Darts, Ten Pin Bowling and 6-a-side Football.

This year’s World Transplant Games will feature the newly introduced ‘Gift of Life’ Baton, which will be presented at the end of the closing ceremony as a new global symbol for organ donation.