Cardiac arrest inspires ride from Cairns to Cooktown
06 October 2020
5
min read
This year’s QSuper Cardiac Challenge saw 143 cyclists gear up for cardiac health for many reasons, but 58-year-old debut rider David Pollak tackled the gruelling 333 kilometres from Cairns to Cooktown for his colleague.
Julie-Anne O’Bryan, 36, who works alongside Mr Pollak (pictured above), experienced a life-threatening cardiac arrest in April and is now on the road to recovery. Her story inspired Mr Pollak to make a difference for those facing cardiac health challenges.
He fundraised more than $2,000, contributing to the event’s total tally of more than $290,000, which far surpassed the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s (FNQHF) $175,000 target.
As this year’s major event sponsor, QSuper enabled every single dollar raised to go directly towards supporting the improvement of cardiac health and the wellbeing of residents in Far North Queensland.
In addition to signing up to the QSuper Cardiac Challenge, Mr Pollak has encouraged his friends and colleagues to take up CPR training, get healthy and fit, and make donations to support the challenge, which benefits FNQHF.
“Julie-Anne’s probably the first person close to me who’s had a significant [cardiac] issue and come through it so well,” Mr Pollak said.
Grateful for QSuper’s support
“Seeing the impact that a cardiac arrest can have on a person like Julie-Anne, I’m so grateful to this year’s major sponsor QSuper for helping to make this event happen,” he said.
Despite having no personal or family history of cardiac health problems, Ms O’Bryan, a mother of three boys under six, said her heart function dropped below 35 per cent.
“I actually had a cardiac arrest at home at 4.30 in the morning, and my husband saved me,” she said.
He did CPR for half an hour and then the next thing I woke up in the hospital with no idea why I was there. I was in an induced coma for a week, and the worst part was it was in the middle of COVID, so it was quite hard for everyone.
“When they took me into hospital, my heart function was quite critical. My GP says it’s an absolute miracle that I am where I am.”
QSuper looks after the retirement savings of more than 8,800 Department of Health employees in the state’s far north and is proud to support an initiative that helps members working in cardiac health provide state-of-the-art care for their patients.