Carol was just three years old when she contracted rheumatic fever, although the illness was not diagnosed until she was six.
One of six children growing up in Batlow, New South Wales, she was the only sibling affected by the disease that would impact her heart for the rest of her life.
Doctors did not expect Carol to live beyond the age of 21 or believe her heart would withstand childbirth. But she defied both those predictions.
Carol became a mother to two daughters, Jo and Louise, and lived to the age of 80, facing every health challenge with extraordinary courage and determination.
Becoming a nanna gave Carol a renewed lease on life and an even greater reason to keep fighting.
Now, only four months after losing both her parents within a day of each other, Cairns community leader Jo Piggott will honour her mother’s remarkable life by riding 319 kilometres from Cairns to Cooktown in the 2026 Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge, hosted by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
“Mum lived with heart disease for almost her entire life, but she never allowed it to define the life she created,” Jo said.
“She underwent numerous cardiac procedures, including open-heart surgery, valve replacements and, later the insertion of a pacemaker and defibrillator. Despite everything her heart endured, she remained focused on living the healthiest life she could.
“Her determination to stay active, eat well and keep going shaped so much of who I am.”
Ms Piggott was in Year 1 when her mother underwent open-heart surgery – an experience that left a lasting impression.
“I was very young, and seeing Mum in hospital after such major surgery was frightening,” she said.
“Although our home was single-storey, there were around 30 stairs leading down from the street to the property. After Mum’s surgery, we moved to a more accessible home because those stairs had become too difficult for her.”
When Jo was 17 or 18, Carol underwent another major operation to have a mechanical heart valve inserted. “You could hear it ticking, and that sound became part of our lives,” she said.
“Mum experienced several strokes over the years, including a catastrophic stroke in May. She passed away on 12 May, and Dad died the following day, on 13 May. It truly felt as though he died from a broken heart.”
Jo is well known throughout the Cairns region as the founder of Your Tribe Australia, a grassroots women’s movement built around movement, connection and community.
In 2023, she was named Cairns Regional Council’s International Women’s Day Woman of the Year for her contribution to the community.
Jo said her mother’s legacy of caring for others continues to motivate her work through Your Tribe Australia.
“Mum taught me the importance of caring for people and community,” Jo said.
Jo has previously brought together Your Tribe Australia teams to participate in the Cardiac Challenge. This year, she is riding as part of the Canardly’s team, which has raised almost $30,000 for cardiac services across Far North Queensland.
Both Carol and Jo’s father were immensely proud of her involvement in the Cardiac Challenge and her commitment to her community.
“Mum and Dad loved that I participated in the Cardiac Challenge and that I cared so deeply about my community and the people in it,” Jo said.
“Mum donated $100 to my fundraising every year, and they were both always waiting to hear how the ride had gone. This will be my first Cardiac Challenge without them. Riding 319 kilometres is always physically demanding, but this year it will also be deeply emotional. I know there will be moments when the grief feels overwhelming, but I’ll carry Mum and Dad with me every kilometre.”
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation Fundraising and Marketing Manager Jenny Coates thanked Ms Piggott and the hundreds of riders, volunteers, supporters and donors donning the lycra and taking part in the iconic Cairns-to-Cooktown ride.
“So many of our riders, volunteers, supporters and donors can relate to stories like Jo’s, and it’s what drives them and us to make a difference to thousands of cardiac patients throughout the Far North,” Mrs Coates said.
In 2026, the Foundation is celebrating 20 years of the Cardiac Challenge, which was established by heart patient Pete McNally.
“With more than $6 million raised over the years for various equipment, we’re not resting on our laurels – funds raised this year will go towards bringing dedicated CT coronary angiography services to the region,” Mrs Coates said.
“We’re partnering with the health service, which is providing $1 million. We already have $1 million in the bank from previous Cardiac Challenge rides, and we need to raise another $1.7 million to bring the service to Far North Queensland.”
The new CT service will allow people who present to the Emergency Department with chest pain, but are not necessarily experiencing a heart attack, to be diagnosed more quickly and either receive appropriate treatment or be safely discharged.
The Foundation’s partnership with Australian Retirement Trust, its other sponsors and the Foundation’s social enterprises enables 100 per cent of funds raised by Cardiac Challenge participants to go directly towards improving cardiac services in Far North Queensland, helping ensure patients can access world-class treatment close to home.
Australian Retirement Trust General Manager, Commercial Relationships Patrick Twomey said the fund was proud to have sponsored the event since 2020 and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge.
“As a fund for all Australians, ART is committed to supporting the communities our members live and retire in,” Mr Twomey said.
“We’re proud of ART’s long-standing partnership with the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation and the positive impact the Cardiac Challenge continues to have on local communities.”
• The 2026 Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge is an annual 319-kilometre bike ride from Cairns to Cooktown and will be held from September 19-21 2026. To learn more or support the riders, visit www.cardiacchallenge.com.au.
Photo: Foundation Fundraising & Marketing Manager Jenny Coates catches up with Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Chllenge cyclist Jo Piggott (with a couple of photo bombers!)
