Sports stars kick off race to add 100,000 Australians to organ donor registry

More than 13 million Australians are being urged to take a minute to help save more than 1800 people anxiously awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant.

They have shown plenty of heart on the field this season, and now the Western Bulldogs are asking Australians to open theirs to organ donation.

Captain Marcus Bontempelli met three-year-old liver transplant recipient Maia Govan to kick off the The Great Registration Race, which aims to add 100,000 more people to the Australian Organ Donor Register by August.

With more than 1800 people on the organ transplant waitlist, Bontempelli urged people to take a minute to sign up as an organ donor in the lead-up to DonateLife Week from July 25-August 1.

“It’s important to raise awareness of organ donation and to have the conversation with your family and friends about the impact it can have on the lives of many Australians,” Bontempelli said.

Bulldogs fan Maia was born with the rare inherited metabolic condition propionic acidemia, and received a life-changing liver transplant 18 months ago.

“We had a paediatric donor, so on what would have been the worst day of someone’s life, they made a decision that has given such a positive outcome to our family,” mum Tara Duke said.

Bulldogs player Marcus Bontempelli with three-year-old liver transplant recipient Maia Govan and her family, parents Richard and Tara and sister Luna. Picture: David Caird

The Great Registration Race aims to tap into the 13 million eligible Australians who are yet to sign up as organ and tissue donors.

“Have those discussions, talk to your loved ones about why you want to be a donor and make sure to register,” Ms Duke said.

The Bulldogs have nominated Sunday’s game against Sydney as their DonateLife match after teaming up as a campaign sporting partner, alongside Melbourne Storm, Sunshine Coast Lightning and the APL men’s and women’s soccer leagues.

“As sportspeople, we can have an impact in raising awareness for causes like this, and meeting people like Maia puts things into perspective for all of us,” Botempelli said.

“We always look forward to playing the Swans; we have great respect for them, we’ve had some awesome battles over the years and this Sunday should be no different.”

Regional Health Minister David Gillespie said the DonateLife sporting partnerships were part of a four-year $4 million package to boost organ and tissue donation throughout Australia.

Join The Great Registration Race in less than a minute by signing up as an organ and tissue donor: donatelife.gov.au/register