Tony Cristaudo was gearing up for his first QSuper Cardiac Challenge but becoming increasingly more breathless, the more training he undertook.
“Then I woke up on Monday morning, I couldn’t breathe and I coughed up some blood so my wife took me to the Cairns Hospital,” the electrician said.
After careful assessment by three cardiologists with differing fields of expertise, it was determined Mr Cristaudo’s mitral valve is leaking and needs repair.
And it was equipment purchased over the years by the fundraising ride – ultrasound and cardiac catheter laboratory services, that were integral to his diagnosis.
Hosted by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, the QSuper Cardiac Challenge is now in its 19th year and has provided more than $6 million worth of equipment and services to cardiac and related services in that time. Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said Mr Cristaudo’s story was remarkable in that he was training for the event – which ended up being critically involved with his diagnosis.
“Over the years this fundraising bike ride to Cooktown has bought millions of dollars worth of equipment and it’s in situations like Tony’s that we get to hear the real heart-beat of why we do what we do,” Mrs Hogan said.
Mr Cristaudo is due to travel to Brisbane later this week for open heart surgery to repair his mitral valve.
Cardiologist Dr Steve Sutcliffe said he had a severe leak of the valve which had torn over time.
While Mr Cristaudo will be unable to take part in this year’s ride (September 20-22), he has been assured he will be able to resume his training regime once recovered from surgery and saddle up for the 20th anniversary of the event in 2026.
The Foundation’s partnership with QSuper, part of Australian Retirement Trust, enables 100 percent of funds, raised by participants of the QSuper Cardiac Challenge, to support cardiac health services in FNQ match the standard of care in metropolitan regions. Australian Retirement Trust’s Head of Government and Regions Patrick Twomey, who participated in last year’s and this year’s event, reflected on its spirit. “Australian Retirement Trust is thrilled to be continuing our sponsorship of the QSuper Cardiac Challenge, with this being our fifth year. Last year marked a special milestone as our team participated in the riding challenge for the second time. We’ve eagerly awaited our return of our riding team, who will experience first-hand how the QSuper Cardiac Challenge showcases the community’s power in improving regional health outcomes,” Mr Twomey said.
Visit www.cardiacchallenge.com.au for more information.
Photo: Cairns Hospital cardiologist Dr Steve Sutcliffe with patient Tony Cristaudo.
