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BRIAN’S STORY: Open Heart Surgery

At 82, Brian McCarthy is a retired farmer who has lived a full life on the land. But a few years ago, that life was fading. A serious heart condition left him dangerously exhausted and breathless, his world shrinking with each passing day.

In October 2022, open-heart surgery with Dr Ben Robinson changed everything. He felt like a new man. So, when a nurse asked if he would donate tissue for research, his ‘yes’ was instant. It was more than a practical choice; it was a personal thank you to the science and care that had given him back his future.

And what a future it has been. Just four months after his surgery, Brian and his daughter set off on a 14,000 km road trip across Australia. It was a journey of pure celebration, a testament to his renewed vitality.

Thanks to you, Brian is proud to have played a part in the research that makes such moments possible, giving from the heart so that others might also have the road open up before them again.

Brian’s renewed journey demonstrates that when one heart is healed, it can help pave the way for many more.

Stay in the loop

Subscribe to our Heart to Heart Newsletter to keep up with the latest developments in heart and lung research from The Baird Institute.

Honour a Loved One

  • Fundraise in memory of someone special to you.

Challenge Yourself

  • Run a marathon
  • Do a long bike ride
  • Walk 10km each day for a month
  • Do 50 sit ups every day for a week
  • Join an organised event such as the City to Surf

Organise a community event

  • Have a backyard sausage sizzle
  • Host a trivia night

Seek sponsorship to help you quit those bad habits

  • Give up smoking
  • Refrain from alcohol for a month or more

Celebrate Through Giving

  • Choose to give on your birthday: Instead of giving you gifts, ask your friends and family to donate to The Baird Institute.
  • Say “I do” to improving the lives of heart and lung patients: Invite guests to donate to The Baird Institute on your wedding day
  • Turn anniversaries or personal milestones into fundraising events.

Create a CrowdRaiser on GiveNow

  1. Go to CrowdRaiser for The Baird Institute.
  2. Scroll down towards the end of the page to the MY CROWDRAISER box.  Click on the button “CrowdRaise Now”.
  3. Create your CrowdRaiser. Fill in the requested details.
  4. Customise your campaign. Add images and messages to make your CrowdRaiser unique.
  5. Share the link to your fundraising page via email, social media, or any way you like.
  6. Let us know via [email protected] that you have created a fundraiser so we can say thank you.

Join a community passionate about making a difference. GiveNow provides a dedicated platform for Australian charities, ensuring your efforts directly support our mission.

Start a Facebook Fundraiser

  1. Go to Facebook fundraisers.
  2. Click on the blue button – “Select nonprofit”
  3. Search for and select The Baird Institute
  4. Set your fundraising target
  5. Choose your campaign end date & a title for your Fundraiser
  6. Personalise your fundraiser: Use the existing wording and photos or choose your own.
  7. Click on ‘Create’.
  8. Invite friends and family. Share the link for your fundraiser and encourage others to contribute.
  9. Let us know via [email protected] that you have created a fundraiser so we can say thank you.

Celebrate where your friends and family connect. Leverage your social network to make a real impact.