Donate Life team getting ready for Townsville Running Festival

Three years ago, Jack Melberzs got a devastating diagnosis – his heart was barely ticking at just five per cent capacity. Life was a struggle until one phone call changed everything, giving Jack a brand-new lease on life.

Townsville Running Festival event director Joel Savage, heart transplant recipient Jack Melberzs and donation medical specialist for Donate Life Melita Trout. Picture: Nikita McGuire

For Jack Melberzs, a phone call gave him a new lease on life.

A devastating diagnosis three years ago saw Mr Melberzs receive the news that his heart was only functioning at five per cent capacity after he started having chest pain that affected his way of life.

Needing a heart transplant, he and his family waited to hear the news of an available donation.

“It was just a normal night; I was going to bed, all prepped, and I got a phone call and was like, alright, we gotta do this,” he said.

“It was an initial shock. They said we have a heart for you, and it’s a pretty good match. And it just snowballed from there; I was prepped for surgery.”

After receiving the transplant, Mr Melberzs said he had gained a new perspective.

“Whenever I struggle or when anything gets in the way I just remember that I’ve gotten a new heart. I just have to flip that switch in my brain and I have to say to myself, ‘you’ve got your heart, be grateful for the heart and do the best you can’”, he said.

Donation medical specialist Melita Trout works with donors and their families, as well as the recipients and their families.

“In the Intensive Care Unit, usually a very sudden event is brought to us, and unfortunately, they are people that we can’t save, but their families make the generous decision to give people a second chance at life,” she said.

“It’s really wonderful to see people join us in these community events to really promote the beneficial effects of organ donation.”

Townsville Running Festival event director Joel Savage, heart transplant recipient Jack Melberzs and donation medical specialist for Donate Life Melita Trout. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Ms Trout said with around 60 members from the Townsville University Hospital’s physiotherapy department taking part in the run, the goal was to help spread the message of organ donation.

Hoping to make the most of every day, Mr Melberzs is taking on the challenge of a 5k run as part of the Donate Life team for this year’s McDonald’s Townsville Running Festival.

“We will be on-site and help facilitate people to be able to sign up to the Australian Organ Donor Register or through the Express Medicare app,” she said.

“It’s also really important that people share their wishes with their families because they could be the ones making the final decision.”

The Donate Life team has over 100 participants, the largest of any group in this year’s festival.

Event director Joel Savage said the team’s effort was amazing before the race had even been run.

“Over 100 people in one team is record-breaking, absolutely amazing,” he said.

“Donate Life has really come through and promoted the Queensland Country Bank Health Fund Corporate event. It’s going to be hard to miss them, they take up a lot of the field, there will be pink shirts everywhere. It’s going to be amazing.”

Mr Savage said that with 3000 participants in total set to take part in this year’s running festival across seven events, the festival is continuing to grow in numbers.

The 2024 McDonald’s Townsville Running Festival will be held at Jezzine Barracks on August 4.

For more information visit www.townsvillerunningfestival.com

Originally published as Donate Life team getting ready for Townsville Running Festival