Cardiac Challenge

REAL estate agent, husband, dad, grandfather, master pizza maker, cyclist and philanthropist.
These are all words used to sum up Tony Nastasi, one of the most dedicated participants in the Mount Franklin Cardiac Challenge.
“I’ve ridden it every year except one because I was injured, but I was still involved as an escort vehicle that year,” Mr Nastasi said. “I just love everything about the Cardiac Challenge – I love the people you meet, the scenery, the adventure – it’s an absolute life changer,” he said.
And he’s one of the most dedicated fundraisers too – often claiming the top fundraiser gong.
“I was a cyclist before Cardiac Challenge came along 10 years ago but I love it – it’s changed my life through meeting so many people and I know the difference it makes to cardiac services. The money all stays local and helps out the cardiology team. I reckon our cardiology team is leading the way now because of Cardiac Challenge,” he said.
He and wife Jane, whose father died of a heart attack aged 52, are keen cyclists, even when not training for the Cardiac Challenge.
“It’s just a life changer for so many people – I’ve got one friend doing it this year for the first time and she said to me ‘I can’t believe how much fun I’ve been missing out on’. The cycling community is just so supportive and encouraging of each other. There’s people now who were complete rookies in my pack and now they’re out-riding me and doing Ironman events,” he said.
He estimates he has raised more than $40,000 for cardiac services in the past 10 years and enjoys motivating others to improve their fundraising as well. Mr Nastasi, along with Sue Cooper of LJ Hooker Yorkeys Knob, also is a sponsor of The Power of Pallets fundraising event, to be held in October.
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe said the efforts of Mr Nastasi, and all the other riders, sponsors and donors, were making a difference to patients’ lives in the Far North every day.
“We’re hearing some incredible stories about positive cardiac outcomes these days and we love knowing that this event changes lives for cyclists and the patients they are helping,” Ms Duncombe said.

Mr Nastasi's fundraising efforts have included pizza nights and tickets in a Thermomix raffle.
To donate to Mr Nastasi's fundraising efforts, click here.
The 10th anniversary Mount Franklin Cardiac Challenge departs from Tjapukai from 6am on Saturday, September 17. The Foundation has a one-lane road closure of the Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range) from 6am-8.45am on that date. All cyclists will be off the Range by 8am. All emergency vehicles will be able to traverse the Range in either direction if required during the closure.
For further information or to donate, visit Cardiac Challenge or www.facebook.com/cardiac.challenge

JOHN Nomoa will probably never take for granted the ability to run and play games with his mates.
That's because he knows what it's like to not be able to do the things normal healthy, active kids do.
The now 13-year-old had a heart transplant two years ago as a result of a genetic heart condition, diagnosed by Cairns Hospital paediatric cardiologist Dr Ben Reeves.
“He just suddenly came along with some breathlessness three years ago and after some examinations, we diagnosed cardio myopathy,” Dr Reeves said.
“He had to move to Brisbane for about 18 months so he could be within two hours of a transplant centre, which at that time was Melbourne,” he said.
John received a new heart 22 months ago and to say his life has changed, would be an understatement.
“I can run and play and do the things that everyone else does now,” John says.
“I just remember being woken up at 5 o'clock in the morning and told we had to go, that there was a heart for me,” the charismatic teenager says.
Sadly, John's 11-year-old sister is now in Melbourne awaiting a heart transplant for the same condition.
“I try to talk to her about what I went through – I couldn't really run before, I'd get short winded and now I can run really fast,” John says.
While he is on medication for life, John is looking forward to the future.
“I think I'll probably be a doctor so I can explain to other kids what I went through,” he says.
John was diagnosed using a piece of equipment funded by the Mount Franklin Cardiac Challenge which Dr Reeves says is an essential tool for his patients.
“We see every day how the fundraising undertaken by those incredible riders and their sponsors, makes a difference to people's lives so all I can say is to tell people to get behind them and support them as much as they can,” Dr Reeves said.
The Mount Franklin Cardiac Challenge is a fundraising bike ride from Cairns to Cooktown, raising funds for cardiac services in the Far North. 2016 is the event's 10th year and 350 cyclists are
registered.

Photograph: Dr Ben Reeves and John Nomoa are calling for donations in the Mount Franklin Cardiac Challenge.