WEBVTT - Colleen rides for research 0:00:45.593 --> 0:00:48.553 Hello and welcome to In Plain Sight, a program where 0:00:48.553 --> 0:00:51.193 we highlight people who are making a positive impact in 0:00:51.193 --> 0:00:53.393 the community and disability sector. 0:00:53.513 --> 0:00:56.393 Shining a light on those who would be otherwise hidden 0:00:56.393 --> 0:00:57.513 in plain sight. 0:00:57.513 --> 0:00:59.593 And it's a pleasure to bring you these stories on 0:00:59.593 --> 0:01:03.313 a weekly basis with you here on Vision Australia Radio. 0:01:03.353 --> 0:01:05.873 Hello, how are you? And hello, Andrew, how. 0:01:05.913 --> 0:01:07.233 Are you, Simon, this week. 0:01:07.273 --> 0:01:09.233 I'm fabulous. Always good to be here, as I say 0:01:09.273 --> 0:01:11.113 each week. And it's good to be part of this 0:01:11.113 --> 0:01:14.433 community that we're creating here on the radio. And I 0:01:14.432 --> 0:01:17.553 always like to support those people in my community, in 0:01:17.593 --> 0:01:21.473 the community that we are broadcasting to. And I was 0:01:21.473 --> 0:01:26.513 informed recently about a fundraising event for Deaf Blind Western Australia, 0:01:26.833 --> 0:01:30.032 where they will be acknowledging White Cane Day, which happens 0:01:30.033 --> 0:01:32.432 on the 15th of October. And Andrew, you've got some 0:01:32.432 --> 0:01:35.353 information there about the event they'll be holding. 0:01:35.553 --> 0:01:39.183 Yes, it's a fun walk, basically. So it's Sunday, the 0:01:39.182 --> 0:01:43.013 18th of October. Um, it's the annual White Cane Day 0:01:43.212 --> 0:01:47.453 sponsored walk, and it's raising funds for their deafblind WA 0:01:47.493 --> 0:01:51.533 peer support group or groups, I should say. And celebrating 0:01:51.533 --> 0:01:54.892 International White Cane Day, as you say. So yeah, it's 0:01:54.893 --> 0:01:58.373 taking place in Edward's Park, which is in Burswood here 0:01:58.373 --> 0:02:01.493 in Perth, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and goes through 0:02:01.493 --> 0:02:05.252 till 2:30. The group walk itself starts at 10:00 and 0:02:05.253 --> 0:02:08.133 then there's a yummy pizza lunch at the end of that. 0:02:08.413 --> 0:02:11.373 So look out for that. So yeah, just Google deafblind 0:02:11.413 --> 0:02:14.693 WA or BWA and you'll be able to find more 0:02:14.693 --> 0:02:16.933 information about how to get involved in that. 0:02:16.933 --> 0:02:21.853 And it's a great time to not only acknowledge the 0:02:21.853 --> 0:02:24.893 blind community and the deaf blind community in this way, 0:02:24.933 --> 0:02:29.653 to say that the white cane is a representation, not 0:02:29.653 --> 0:02:32.613 only a tool for those of us are blind and 0:02:32.613 --> 0:02:37.613 vision impaired to actually acknowledge what freedom and what kind 0:02:37.613 --> 0:02:41.713 of strength and independence a tool like a white cane 0:02:41.713 --> 0:02:43.953 or a seeing eye dog or a guide dog can 0:02:43.953 --> 0:02:46.873 give a person who is blind or vision impaired. And 0:02:46.913 --> 0:02:50.553 it's a great reminder to me, at least, that it's 0:02:50.553 --> 0:02:54.713 good to acknowledge the community in which we are part of. 0:02:54.752 --> 0:02:57.833 Like we're all parts of different kinds of communities. And 0:02:57.833 --> 0:03:01.353 I like to say, once again, I like to be 0:03:01.353 --> 0:03:05.113 able to give more time. So I can't give as 0:03:05.113 --> 0:03:07.752 much time as I like to the communities out there. 0:03:07.752 --> 0:03:09.672 So I like to support them on air here on 0:03:09.673 --> 0:03:12.192 the radio. And it's a fabulous thing to do. And 0:03:12.192 --> 0:03:15.192 if you want to get involved with different kinds of 0:03:15.192 --> 0:03:19.153 communities and you're thinking about something, whatever it might be, 0:03:19.153 --> 0:03:22.472 get involved. Have a go. Try it out. And I 0:03:22.472 --> 0:03:24.993 like to support all the people within the deaf blind 0:03:25.032 --> 0:03:27.593 community here in Western Australia and wherever you happen to 0:03:27.593 --> 0:03:32.232 be listening. Um, and look out in your personal communities 0:03:32.233 --> 0:03:35.873 for different ways of getting involved with the disability sector. 0:03:35.873 --> 0:03:40.233 Like here in Perth, the Perth festival often has events 0:03:40.233 --> 0:03:44.143 and things happening. And also they were looking for people 0:03:44.143 --> 0:03:47.023 to be part of their disability reference group. So if 0:03:47.023 --> 0:03:49.783 you're interested in that, I think the final call out 0:03:49.783 --> 0:03:52.463 for that might have passed. But if you are interested 0:03:52.463 --> 0:03:56.623 in being part of the Perth Festival Disability Reference Group, 0:03:56.623 --> 0:04:01.383 get involved with that. And Andrew, today on our major interview, 0:04:01.423 --> 0:04:04.343 our feature interview, we are going to be talking to 0:04:04.383 --> 0:04:07.943 Colleen Ashby, and you've got some information there about what 0:04:07.943 --> 0:04:10.783 Colleen Ashby is going to be participating in in the 0:04:10.783 --> 0:04:15.142 fundraising event for the Heart Lung Foundation of Western Australia. 0:04:15.263 --> 0:04:20.343 Yes, indeed. Colleen is a great exponent of bike riding. 0:04:21.063 --> 0:04:24.103 And this particular event that's coming up is called Breaths 0:04:24.103 --> 0:04:28.183 and Beats. And it's a fundraising event for the Heart 0:04:28.183 --> 0:04:32.783 and Lung Transplant Foundation in WA. And there's there's two 0:04:32.783 --> 0:04:37.263 different lengths of this particular event. There's a 34 kilometre. 0:04:37.463 --> 0:04:39.543 It's not quite a race, but it's an event that 0:04:39.543 --> 0:04:43.003 starts and finishes along the South Perth foreshore along the 0:04:43.003 --> 0:04:47.083 Swan River. Absolutely fantastic place here in Perth. Mhm. Um, 0:04:47.123 --> 0:04:49.483 and there's also a longer route that takes you up 0:04:49.483 --> 0:04:52.203 to the hills in Kalamunda and comes back again. So 0:04:52.203 --> 0:04:56.563 that's about 60km. And it's a terrific event which raises 0:04:56.563 --> 0:04:59.883 funds for the heart and Lung transplant Foundation of WA 0:04:59.923 --> 0:05:02.643 as I mentioned. Um, and for more information you can 0:05:02.643 --> 0:05:06.083 go to the website of the event, which is breaths 0:05:06.083 --> 0:05:11.563 and beats.org.au. So it's just all those words put together 0:05:11.563 --> 0:05:16.763 breaths and beats ride.org.au and more information as well about 0:05:16.763 --> 0:05:20.163 the Heart and Lung Transplant Foundation in WA. You can 0:05:20.163 --> 0:05:26.642 go to their website too, which is heart lung transplant foundation.org.au. You. 0:05:26.843 --> 0:05:29.603 Yes. And here on Vision Australia Radio, we like to 0:05:29.643 --> 0:05:33.523 support those kinds of people that are helping supporting others. 0:05:33.763 --> 0:05:36.563 And it's really great to hear from people like Colleen 0:05:36.563 --> 0:05:40.343 who are giving back so tremendously and so with so 0:05:40.343 --> 0:05:44.423 much vigor and energy to their communities. And as you 0:05:44.463 --> 0:05:47.423 will hear from the interview with Colleen, she feels like 0:05:47.423 --> 0:05:51.023 she was given another life and she is giving back 0:05:51.023 --> 0:05:54.703 to that community. So if you can look out for 0:05:54.903 --> 0:05:59.583 Colleen's fundraising page, and also she is part of the 0:06:00.063 --> 0:06:03.903 West Australian Tandem Cycling Committee and look out for that 0:06:03.903 --> 0:06:06.503 as well, which we'll talk about later in the interview, 0:06:06.543 --> 0:06:09.423 which is coming up for you now. Please enjoy. Today 0:06:09.463 --> 0:06:11.903 our guest is Colleen Ashby. Hello, Colleen. 0:06:11.903 --> 0:06:14.103 Hi, Simon. Thank you for having me on the show. 0:06:14.463 --> 0:06:16.783 And thanks for joining us once again. And we've had 0:06:16.783 --> 0:06:20.383 Colleen on once before. Now, just to recap, Colleen, so 0:06:20.423 --> 0:06:24.703 you're blind and you are a recipient of a heart transplant. 0:06:24.743 --> 0:06:28.103 Can you tell us briefly how that all came to be? 0:06:28.143 --> 0:06:35.303 Yeah. So back in 2017, I actually received my new heart. Um, unfortunately, 0:06:35.303 --> 0:06:37.543 the new heart didn't want to start up, so I 0:06:37.543 --> 0:06:42.643 was four days in an induced coma. Uh. Long story short, uh, 0:06:42.643 --> 0:06:46.283 things went wrong, and I woke up on day five, uh, 0:06:46.283 --> 0:06:50.043 legally blind. Um, so my eyes are fine, but my 0:06:50.043 --> 0:06:53.803 optic nerve to the brain doesn't get messages of how 0:06:53.803 --> 0:06:56.163 to see anymore. But it hasn't held me back by 0:06:56.163 --> 0:06:57.323 any means at all. 0:06:57.363 --> 0:07:00.563 Certainly has not. You're one of the most effervescent, energetic 0:07:00.563 --> 0:07:03.763 people I've ever met. You're also an author, I think. 0:07:03.803 --> 0:07:07.043 Last time we spoke, you had two books published. Can 0:07:07.043 --> 0:07:09.243 you remind us the names of those two books, please? 0:07:09.283 --> 0:07:12.603 Yeah. So the first one is I Can See Clearly Now, 0:07:13.123 --> 0:07:17.483 and that's basically my memoir, along with the four day 0:07:17.523 --> 0:07:20.283 nightmare that I was in, in an unconscious state, which 0:07:20.283 --> 0:07:23.323 I wanted to get out. And the second one is 0:07:23.363 --> 0:07:25.683 ya got a laugh, which is, uh, I call it 0:07:25.683 --> 0:07:30.003 a coffee table book full of little anecdotes of things 0:07:30.003 --> 0:07:32.883 you have to do since losing sight, like putting toothpaste 0:07:32.883 --> 0:07:36.283 on a toothbrush and getting PowerPoints into plugs or plugs 0:07:36.283 --> 0:07:41.633 into PowerPoints. Really can be frustrating. And I've just finished 0:07:41.633 --> 0:07:46.793 writing my third book, and it's at the final stages 0:07:46.793 --> 0:07:49.833 where I'm now going to be seeking out another publisher. 0:07:50.033 --> 0:07:52.433 And do you have a working title for that book? 0:07:52.473 --> 0:07:55.793 Yeah, I'm calling it Sian to Inga legacy. 0:07:55.793 --> 0:07:58.753 And Sian was a previous guide dog of yours. 0:07:59.273 --> 0:08:03.073 A seeing eye dog. I've got to correct you. Yes. Um, so. 0:08:03.273 --> 0:08:05.673 Hello to the seeing eye dog people. 0:08:06.393 --> 0:08:10.193 Yes. So yeah, Sian was my first seeing eye dog 0:08:10.193 --> 0:08:12.833 and I've still got her. She's retired. We call her 0:08:12.833 --> 0:08:16.433 Sugar Face now because she's got a very grey eyebrows 0:08:16.433 --> 0:08:20.073 and grey snout. And it looks like she's dipped her 0:08:20.073 --> 0:08:22.473 face in the sugar bowl. My husband says, and now 0:08:22.473 --> 0:08:25.593 I've got Inka, which I've been. I've had her for 0:08:25.753 --> 0:08:29.633 18 months now and she's gorgeous. Both black labs. 0:08:29.673 --> 0:08:32.793 Yes. And definitely do want to make that distinction there. Ah, 0:08:32.833 --> 0:08:36.833 for those listening, there are two groups schools, if you like, 0:08:36.873 --> 0:08:40.813 of assistance dogs or dogs that help people who are 0:08:40.813 --> 0:08:44.053 vision impaired and blind. One is seeing eye dogs, which 0:08:44.053 --> 0:08:46.893 is linked to Vision Australia and the other is Guide Dogs. 0:08:46.893 --> 0:08:48.653 And we've spoken about that in the past, and I 0:08:48.653 --> 0:08:52.293 think we had a programme on radio just recently, just 0:08:52.293 --> 0:08:55.293 all about that with Matt Wood from seeing Eye Dogs. 0:08:55.493 --> 0:08:58.813 Yeah. So Matt would pull me up by the collar 0:08:58.813 --> 0:09:01.533 if I did not correct you saying seeing eye dogs 0:09:01.533 --> 0:09:02.653 and not guide dogs. 0:09:02.813 --> 0:09:06.533 And how long have you had seeing eye dogs in 2018? 0:09:06.693 --> 0:09:10.773 So, uh, what's that? Eight years? Yeah, about eight years 0:09:10.933 --> 0:09:13.492 because I lost sight in 2017 and I got Jan 0:09:13.493 --> 0:09:14.493 in 2018. 0:09:14.973 --> 0:09:18.733 So this whole journey is relatively a new one. Like 0:09:18.773 --> 0:09:22.333 it's when I think of time periods, I think that's 0:09:22.333 --> 0:09:23.973 quite a short time period. 0:09:24.373 --> 0:09:30.093 Yes. Yeah. From losing sight in 2017, which next year 0:09:30.093 --> 0:09:34.413 is my ten year heart anniversary, which is a big 0:09:34.413 --> 0:09:37.773 milestone for me because being a type one diabetic, I 0:09:37.833 --> 0:09:41.193 was the first type one in Perth to have a 0:09:41.193 --> 0:09:45.113 heart transplant, because generally the type one diabetics aren't in 0:09:45.113 --> 0:09:48.393 a good enough state to be able to receive a heart. 0:09:48.633 --> 0:09:52.153 But they, you know, put me through and decided I 0:09:52.153 --> 0:09:55.033 could have one and five years was the most that 0:09:55.033 --> 0:09:57.713 they said that I would expect out of it. Because 0:09:57.713 --> 0:10:00.593 all the things that can go wrong with an ordinary 0:10:00.593 --> 0:10:03.553 person and then add type one diabetes, they thought it 0:10:03.553 --> 0:10:06.873 would be amplified, but I'm just proving them wrong. 0:10:07.273 --> 0:10:12.393 Well, you're very, um, you're very strong and dynamic person now. 0:10:12.393 --> 0:10:14.673 You were quite fit, like you were a very active 0:10:14.673 --> 0:10:19.113 person prior to that operation. And you were very kind 0:10:19.113 --> 0:10:20.633 of sporty person, weren't you? 0:10:20.673 --> 0:10:25.153 Yeah. I was a an aerobics instructor and personal trainer. 0:10:25.553 --> 0:10:29.033 And then when I had my first, uh, stents put 0:10:29.033 --> 0:10:31.913 in and I said, how long can I till I 0:10:31.913 --> 0:10:34.593 get back to teaching aerobics? And he said, you'll never 0:10:34.873 --> 0:10:38.893 teach aerobics again. And my defiant little voice in. You're 0:10:38.893 --> 0:10:41.253 not telling me what I can't do, and Zumba had 0:10:41.253 --> 0:10:43.813 just hit the. Um. I know what you'd call it, 0:10:43.813 --> 0:10:45.813 not the dance floor, but it had hit the rounds 0:10:45.813 --> 0:10:48.413 back then, and that has a different pace where you can, 0:10:48.453 --> 0:10:52.053 you know, go slow, fast, slow, fast. So I took 0:10:52.053 --> 0:10:54.253 to it like a duck to water as I'd done 0:10:54.293 --> 0:10:57.053 sort of nearly ten years on the ballroom dance floor 0:10:57.253 --> 0:11:00.973 previous to that. So I love dancing. Um, yeah. And 0:11:00.973 --> 0:11:02.573 I also have always been very active. 0:11:02.573 --> 0:11:05.253 Well, so many connections to your story, to some of 0:11:05.253 --> 0:11:10.173 our recent and upcoming radio programs. You have many connections, Colleen, 0:11:10.213 --> 0:11:13.693 to our, our people and our audience. And it's fabulous 0:11:13.693 --> 0:11:18.093 to bring those things together for our listening community. So 0:11:18.413 --> 0:11:22.293 diabetes type one, can you just remind us which one 0:11:22.293 --> 0:11:24.773 that is, please? I'm a bit naive to these types 0:11:24.773 --> 0:11:25.333 of things. 0:11:25.573 --> 0:11:30.213 That's okay. So type one diabetes is an autoimmune response. Generally. 0:11:30.213 --> 0:11:33.253 They used to call it juvenile diabetes because it was 0:11:33.253 --> 0:11:36.613 always in children. But it's where a part of the pancreas, 0:11:37.033 --> 0:11:40.752 the antibodies in my body. See it as an invader 0:11:40.753 --> 0:11:43.993 so it destroys it. And that's where you have to 0:11:43.993 --> 0:11:48.273 be on insulin. And that part of the pancreas is actually, 0:11:48.313 --> 0:11:51.313 you know, gone, dead and gone. Whereas the type two 0:11:51.313 --> 0:11:55.953 diabetic is well, generally they say lifestyle disease, usually if 0:11:55.993 --> 0:11:59.433 you exercise, lose weight and do all the, you know, 0:11:59.673 --> 0:12:05.113 right things, it will disappear. Mhm. So that's type two. 0:12:05.273 --> 0:12:08.913 Since you have been blind, you've been a really active 0:12:08.913 --> 0:12:13.512 member within the blind community and also within the sports community, 0:12:13.513 --> 0:12:17.673 within the blind. You are very keen tandem cyclists. And 0:12:17.673 --> 0:12:20.913 you are. Remind me, are you on the committee for the. 0:12:21.913 --> 0:12:24.033 I'm now chair of. Wait, wait. 0:12:24.793 --> 0:12:26.913 Remind me again what it stands for. 0:12:26.953 --> 0:12:30.833 Because it's so complicated. So Wetcake is the West Australian 0:12:30.873 --> 0:12:35.393 Tandem Cycling Advisory Council, which back in the day when 0:12:35.393 --> 0:12:40.823 it first came about, it was advising basically blind or 0:12:40.823 --> 0:12:45.103 low vision people that wanted to get more into, uh, cycling, 0:12:45.103 --> 0:12:50.502 but at the Paralympic level of giving them pathways and 0:12:50.503 --> 0:12:54.543 linking them up with how to get there and bikes 0:12:54.543 --> 0:13:00.863 and stuff. Um, it's since evolved, especially more recently since 0:13:00.863 --> 0:13:03.023 I've been part of them and I thought it was 0:13:03.023 --> 0:13:05.543 a club, but it actually isn't. But it's, it's, it's 0:13:05.703 --> 0:13:07.903 seems to be turning that way. And we do more 0:13:07.903 --> 0:13:11.943 social rides now. Uh, lots of coffee stops, you know, halfway, 0:13:11.943 --> 0:13:14.783 which is, uh, the main event for us. So we 0:13:14.783 --> 0:13:18.743 do three bike rides a month, two or what they 0:13:18.743 --> 0:13:23.343 call rec or recreational rides there between 30 to 35km 0:13:23.343 --> 0:13:26.303 with a coffee stop halfway. And then we do a 0:13:26.303 --> 0:13:30.983 club ride, which is usually around 50km, a bit faster 0:13:30.983 --> 0:13:34.543 and no stopping until the end. And it's great. So 0:13:34.583 --> 0:13:37.643 I love having the tandems and being part of the 0:13:37.763 --> 0:13:41.242 community now and the committee thrown in the deep end. 0:13:41.243 --> 0:13:43.923 But no, we're we're we're doing really well. We have 0:13:43.923 --> 0:13:47.002 a bit of a saying. Nobody gets left behind. Mhm. 0:13:47.043 --> 0:13:50.283 So on all the rides, it's very safe. All the 0:13:50.283 --> 0:13:53.563 pilots that we have have gone through training. So there's 0:13:53.563 --> 0:13:56.563 got to be a lot of communication. Uh, when you're 0:13:56.563 --> 0:13:59.482 doing tandem cycling, especially with a blind person on the back. 0:13:59.923 --> 0:14:02.803 And we also will stop to make sure all the 0:14:02.803 --> 0:14:06.003 groups together before moving on. So. 0:14:06.283 --> 0:14:08.723 So the front, the front riders are now called pilots. 0:14:08.763 --> 0:14:11.443 Yes. The front person's a pilot and we're the stokers. 0:14:11.483 --> 0:14:13.002 We do all the work. Yeah. 0:14:13.523 --> 0:14:16.803 What kind of competitive level are you at, Colleen, with this? 0:14:17.603 --> 0:14:20.803 No. I'm not. No. I just do it for the 0:14:20.803 --> 0:14:24.043 social aspect. So, um. I just do it for the 0:14:24.043 --> 0:14:24.723 joy of it. 0:14:25.083 --> 0:14:28.443 On the social rides. On a general basis, how many 0:14:28.443 --> 0:14:30.843 people do you regularly get on those kind of rides? 0:14:30.883 --> 0:14:36.103 We get between 5 to 7 tandems And then we 0:14:36.103 --> 0:14:40.383 have 2 to 3 singles. Usually one will be the 0:14:40.503 --> 0:14:44.023 the leader, and we have one that always stays behind 0:14:44.023 --> 0:14:46.583 to make sure, you know, all the sheep are rounded 0:14:46.583 --> 0:14:50.903 up together. Yeah. And generally just another one comes along 0:14:51.063 --> 0:14:54.063 that can go between. So we'll have yeah, 2 to 0:14:54.063 --> 0:14:54.943 3 singles. 0:14:54.943 --> 0:14:57.623 So if someone's interested a vision impaired person or a 0:14:57.623 --> 0:15:00.023 blind person is interested. So can I just turn up 0:15:00.023 --> 0:15:01.903 and say, hey, I want to go bike riding. How 0:15:01.903 --> 0:15:03.983 does it work? How do you team them up with 0:15:04.023 --> 0:15:05.263 the pilots? 0:15:05.543 --> 0:15:09.223 You have to go to the website, the website, and 0:15:09.263 --> 0:15:11.663 on that it'll be an info form that if you 0:15:11.663 --> 0:15:14.223 fill out saying, if you're with all your details, whether 0:15:14.223 --> 0:15:17.023 you want to be a pilot or a stoker generally, 0:15:17.023 --> 0:15:22.063 then we run a, um, introduction day. And so the 0:15:22.063 --> 0:15:24.983 pilots get trained and the stokers get a feel of 0:15:24.983 --> 0:15:27.863 what it's like, and they go out on a little track. Generally, 0:15:27.903 --> 0:15:32.903 our main issue is finding enough pilots that want to 0:15:32.943 --> 0:15:37.843 regularly stay to do the work. So we have more stokers, 0:15:37.843 --> 0:15:41.843 I would say, than available pilots. And that is our 0:15:41.843 --> 0:15:45.603 ongoing issue. So if we get new stokers, blind people 0:15:45.603 --> 0:15:48.243 on the back, we're now having to say, can you 0:15:48.243 --> 0:15:51.603 please try and find your own pilot or bring somebody 0:15:51.603 --> 0:15:55.043 along that can regularly do it with you? So another 0:15:55.043 --> 0:15:58.003 call out here, anybody that's sighted and wants to do 0:15:58.003 --> 0:16:02.443 some piloting work, we are desperate. Yeah, we really need you. 0:16:03.483 --> 0:16:06.443 On Vision Australia radio. You're listening to In Plain Sight 0:16:06.443 --> 0:16:10.123 with Simon Chong and me, Andrew Williams. Our guest this 0:16:10.123 --> 0:16:13.483 week is Colleen Ashby, an author of two books, with 0:16:13.523 --> 0:16:17.163 a third coming soon and also a heart transplant recipient. 0:16:17.203 --> 0:16:19.163 And now it's back to Simon and Colleen. 0:16:19.443 --> 0:16:22.843 Now, how much more difficult is it to be the 0:16:22.843 --> 0:16:26.003 front rider of a tandem bike than it is to 0:16:26.003 --> 0:16:27.923 ride a single, ordinary bike? 0:16:28.243 --> 0:16:32.203 So from the few pilots and the one I ride 0:16:32.203 --> 0:16:37.313 regularly with now, um, he said, it's a completely different 0:16:37.353 --> 0:16:40.633 feel for one. It's like instead of driving a car, 0:16:40.673 --> 0:16:43.673 you're now driving a semi trailer. So doing corners, you've 0:16:43.673 --> 0:16:47.473 got the extra length on the back and stopping and 0:16:47.473 --> 0:16:51.433 starting is also slower to stop and harder to take off. 0:16:51.433 --> 0:16:53.953 So you've got to make sure you're in the right gear. Also, 0:16:53.993 --> 0:16:56.833 the balance of the person on the back and making 0:16:56.833 --> 0:16:59.953 sure that you're in sync makes a big difference to 0:16:59.993 --> 0:17:03.673 the feel of the bike than just having yourself. So 0:17:04.312 --> 0:17:07.113 a lot of the pilots say they really enjoy it 0:17:07.113 --> 0:17:10.713 because it's a completely different feel to riding a single 0:17:11.153 --> 0:17:13.312 and people think, oh, it's easy, you've got two people, 0:17:13.312 --> 0:17:17.312 but the bikes themselves are much heavier and longer, so 0:17:17.353 --> 0:17:21.072 on windy days they become like a kite and hills, basically, 0:17:21.072 --> 0:17:24.313 tandems don't go up. We have to choose paths that 0:17:24.312 --> 0:17:28.273 are fairly flat because hills are really difficult to do 0:17:28.312 --> 0:17:29.633 on the heavy tandems. 0:17:29.633 --> 0:17:32.832 If you're listening to the podcast version of this radio program, 0:17:32.832 --> 0:17:35.092 I will put the link to the white cat on 0:17:35.133 --> 0:17:39.333 the description and show notes of the podcast. And if 0:17:39.373 --> 0:17:41.653 you just contact the radio station here and you can 0:17:41.653 --> 0:17:44.172 find out more about that. Are there any big events 0:17:44.173 --> 0:17:46.613 coming up with a tandem cycling? 0:17:46.653 --> 0:17:50.132 Our next big event is the Breaths and Beats Charity 0:17:50.132 --> 0:17:53.973 ride for heart and lung research. Uh, this is now 0:17:53.973 --> 0:17:59.013 the third year it's been running and I was asked 0:17:59.013 --> 0:18:03.453 to be a leader from the get go back in 2023, 0:18:03.733 --> 0:18:06.572 which was actually just after the World Transplant Games were 0:18:06.572 --> 0:18:09.852 here in Perth. Mhm. And so the Heart and Lung 0:18:09.892 --> 0:18:13.293 Research Institute, which is run out of Fiona Stanley Hospital, 0:18:13.773 --> 0:18:18.692 has now been trying to get this breaths and beats 0:18:18.733 --> 0:18:23.493 or capital limited breaths and beats. I should correct myself now. Yes. Ride. 0:18:23.493 --> 0:18:27.812 And this is, uh, last year we had nearly double 0:18:27.812 --> 0:18:31.493 the amount of riders as to the first year, and 0:18:31.493 --> 0:18:33.292 we're hoping that was going to happen this year. But 0:18:33.433 --> 0:18:39.032 unfortunately the numbers just haven't been coming in. And so 0:18:39.072 --> 0:18:41.433 we're trying to do a big call out to people 0:18:41.433 --> 0:18:45.073 to come join this amazing ride for a great reason. 0:18:45.273 --> 0:18:47.872 So the tandem cycling people are going to be involved 0:18:47.872 --> 0:18:49.912 in this charity ride fundraising ride. 0:18:49.953 --> 0:18:54.073 Yes, we usually have about five tandems. I think I've 0:18:54.072 --> 0:18:58.832 got five under me again this year, and then a 0:18:58.832 --> 0:19:02.832 lot of, uh, singles sign up as well. Um, so 0:19:02.832 --> 0:19:04.873 even if you're not blind and you're in a tandem 0:19:04.872 --> 0:19:08.712 riding group, come join my team is called blind determination. 0:19:08.753 --> 0:19:13.153 Blind determination and determination is should be your middle name, 0:19:13.153 --> 0:19:13.832 that's for sure. 0:19:14.233 --> 0:19:18.992 So, um, yeah, through the heart and lung research web page. 0:19:19.193 --> 0:19:22.112 And then you find the breaths and beats ride. There's, 0:19:22.153 --> 0:19:25.673 I think, 17 teams. Each team leader is either a 0:19:25.673 --> 0:19:30.032 heart or lung transplant recipient. And you just choose one 0:19:30.032 --> 0:19:33.532 of those profiles to sign up and write under and 0:19:33.532 --> 0:19:37.892 the days and amazing day. They have food trucks, entertainment, 0:19:37.892 --> 0:19:42.492 singing and the camaraderie. There's something very special about the 0:19:42.493 --> 0:19:46.133 transplant group. Any transplant, not just heart and lungs. I 0:19:46.132 --> 0:19:49.652 think because without it, none of us would be here. 0:19:49.653 --> 0:19:53.773 And there's a lot of gratitude and camaraderie, and we 0:19:53.773 --> 0:19:57.733 just know the struggles that everybody has personally been through 0:19:58.013 --> 0:20:01.852 to be where they are today. So it's a great 0:20:01.852 --> 0:20:04.413 event and beautiful atmosphere. 0:20:04.612 --> 0:20:07.852 And talking about camaraderie and talking about community as I 0:20:07.852 --> 0:20:09.652 was earlier, I want to give a shout out to 0:20:09.693 --> 0:20:12.172 Adrian Grant, who's one of the presenters here on Vision 0:20:12.173 --> 0:20:14.813 Australia Radio from Perth. He's one of the people that 0:20:14.812 --> 0:20:18.173 reads out the morning news on a Tuesday morning. Hello, Adrian. 0:20:18.173 --> 0:20:20.733 Now he was a heart transplant recipient, is that right? 0:20:20.733 --> 0:20:21.892 Yes, yes. 0:20:21.933 --> 0:20:24.773 And he's going to be hopefully participating in this breaths 0:20:24.773 --> 0:20:25.373 and beats. 0:20:25.572 --> 0:20:28.972 Yeah. He's one of the team leaders himself now. 0:20:28.973 --> 0:20:32.753 I was really interested in reading about that aspect of it. 0:20:32.753 --> 0:20:36.473 They have allocated everyone that's had a heart and or 0:20:36.473 --> 0:20:40.032 lung transplant to be team leaders. That must be great honor. 0:20:40.312 --> 0:20:44.952 Yeah. Again, because without it, they wouldn't be here. And 0:20:44.953 --> 0:20:50.032 to know that sort of exercise is a key component, 0:20:50.032 --> 0:20:55.592 both pre and post-transplant, because before that, most people couldn't 0:20:55.592 --> 0:21:00.273 do exercise and to choose to be a leader for 0:21:00.552 --> 0:21:04.753 a bike ride charity event is. Yeah, I'm really proud 0:21:04.753 --> 0:21:07.312 to be one for sure. And I think everybody else is. 0:21:07.352 --> 0:21:10.993 And we all hear everybody's stories about what it's taken 0:21:10.993 --> 0:21:13.873 for them to get there. And it just gives you 0:21:13.872 --> 0:21:17.552 a sense of gratitude and making the most out of life. 0:21:17.552 --> 0:21:22.513 Now, these breath and beats fundraising bike ride for the 0:21:22.513 --> 0:21:26.953 Heart Lung Transplant Foundation is happening on the 1st of November, 0:21:26.953 --> 0:21:29.433 and it starts and finishes in South Perth. Is that right? 0:21:29.473 --> 0:21:32.782 Yes. Yeah. On the South Perth foreshore. So there's a 0:21:32.782 --> 0:21:36.782 35 kilometre ride which the tandems will be doing, and 0:21:36.782 --> 0:21:39.743 then there's a 60 kilometer ride which goes up to 0:21:39.782 --> 0:21:43.463 the hills in Kalamunda and back down again. So if 0:21:43.503 --> 0:21:46.703 you're a keen, avid cyclist, you can do the hill ride. 0:21:46.703 --> 0:21:50.023 The ride of that starts about an hour earlier, and 0:21:50.142 --> 0:21:53.263 then the rest of us have a nice, pleasant, flat 0:21:53.263 --> 0:21:57.263 ride from South Perth, sort of around and land back 0:21:57.263 --> 0:22:01.342 at the foreshore again for sort of singing and entertainment 0:22:01.342 --> 0:22:04.263 and some fun and yeah, results. 0:22:04.302 --> 0:22:08.182 Now, these types of events are really important for obviously, 0:22:08.183 --> 0:22:11.703 in this case, we're helping to raise money to help 0:22:11.703 --> 0:22:15.302 research heart and lung transplant and other transplants. And it's 0:22:15.302 --> 0:22:20.062 also a reminder to people that it's really important to 0:22:20.102 --> 0:22:24.182 register to be an organ donor. After I met you, Colleen, 0:22:24.183 --> 0:22:26.662 last time you came in to speak with us, I 0:22:26.822 --> 0:22:29.503 got on to the internet and I became a registered 0:22:29.503 --> 0:22:32.403 organ donor myself, and I carry the card with me. 0:22:32.923 --> 0:22:38.003 It's also really important because these kinds of really high 0:22:38.042 --> 0:22:41.723 tech medical procedures, they take lots of money. These kinds 0:22:41.723 --> 0:22:45.003 of organizations are Australia wide. So wherever you're listening within Australia, 0:22:45.203 --> 0:22:49.482 around the world, help support these organizations that help support 0:22:49.483 --> 0:22:52.523 people like Colleen and others who have been through this 0:22:52.882 --> 0:22:57.322 quite dramatic and traumatic event of having a transplant. And 0:22:57.723 --> 0:23:01.402 I really take my hat off to everyone that's been involved. Now, Colleen, 0:23:01.562 --> 0:23:05.163 I looked up your fundraising page the other day and 0:23:05.163 --> 0:23:08.483 I donated to Colleen. So look up Colleen Ashby for 0:23:08.523 --> 0:23:12.443 threats and beats for the Heart and Lung Foundation. And Colleen, 0:23:12.443 --> 0:23:16.162 you set a goal of raising $1,000 and you've doubled 0:23:16.163 --> 0:23:17.003 that already. 0:23:17.042 --> 0:23:19.922 Yeah, well, I ran a quiz night. Yes. Which I 0:23:19.923 --> 0:23:23.443 did last year as well for a fundraiser. And that 0:23:23.443 --> 0:23:28.323 was really successful. The numbers were down this year, unfortunately, 0:23:28.322 --> 0:23:30.722 but I'll still do it again next year. And so 0:23:30.723 --> 0:23:32.703 it was from the quiz night that I managed to 0:23:32.743 --> 0:23:35.983 raise the 2500 dollars. So, and thank you for everybody 0:23:35.983 --> 0:23:37.903 that came to the quiz night. It was a fun 0:23:37.903 --> 0:23:38.903 and fabulous night. 0:23:39.582 --> 0:23:41.623 Talking about quiz nights and the like. Have you got 0:23:41.622 --> 0:23:44.822 any fundraising events happening for the tandem cycling? 0:23:44.822 --> 0:23:47.142 I did a quiz night for Cassie earlier on in 0:23:47.142 --> 0:23:51.062 the year, which I raised $4,000 to give back to 0:23:51.423 --> 0:23:54.463 the club. That which was great, but no, otherwise it's 0:23:54.463 --> 0:23:58.062 just we recycle the cash for cans and do fundraising 0:23:58.062 --> 0:23:58.542 that way. 0:23:58.743 --> 0:24:01.343 Again, folks, none of these things happen for free and 0:24:01.622 --> 0:24:05.383 more often than not, they're run by volunteers and we 0:24:05.423 --> 0:24:07.983 got to support people who are giving up their time. 0:24:07.983 --> 0:24:10.342 And I really take my hat off to people like 0:24:10.342 --> 0:24:13.903 Colleen here, who give back to their community in such 0:24:13.943 --> 0:24:17.263 a vibrant way. Now, Colleen, we have run out of time. 0:24:17.263 --> 0:24:18.983 Is there anything you'd like to leave us with before 0:24:18.983 --> 0:24:19.983 we have to say goodbye? 0:24:20.263 --> 0:24:23.062 Uh, no. Only that what you said about the volunteers. 0:24:23.302 --> 0:24:27.143 It's our club is totally all volunteers. Um, so any 0:24:27.183 --> 0:24:32.082 donations given to me would be greatly appreciated because storing 0:24:32.082 --> 0:24:35.162 the bikes is an expense and coming back to the 0:24:35.163 --> 0:24:38.842 heart and lung research. Really sign up. Don't be scared. 0:24:38.842 --> 0:24:42.322 It's a fund. It's not a race. We last year 0:24:42.322 --> 0:24:45.603 was ties and tutus. We make it a fun event 0:24:45.923 --> 0:24:50.203 and it's all just about participating in life, which is 0:24:50.403 --> 0:24:54.923 once you're a transplant recipient, that's what life is about. 0:24:54.923 --> 0:24:57.403 And everybody out there make the most of it. Don't 0:24:57.403 --> 0:25:01.042 be scared. Endeavor to try something new and give everything 0:25:01.082 --> 0:25:01.563 a go. 0:25:01.602 --> 0:25:03.562 And what was it? Tires and tutus. 0:25:03.923 --> 0:25:08.443 Tutus and ties. So I was under Donate Life, which 0:25:08.443 --> 0:25:10.723 I will be this year. And so I had, uh, 0:25:10.723 --> 0:25:13.642 the girls were dressed up in pink tutus. The guys 0:25:13.642 --> 0:25:16.962 wore bright hot pink ties, and we had like some 0:25:16.963 --> 0:25:21.082 hot pink fluro leg warmers and gloves and mittens. And 0:25:21.082 --> 0:25:24.203 I had some pink angel wings on my back, which 0:25:24.203 --> 0:25:25.603 I'll have this year as well. 0:25:26.082 --> 0:25:27.802 So you're going with the same costume this year? 0:25:27.802 --> 0:25:29.763 Yeah, yeah, yeah. You don't have to buy a new one. 0:25:29.872 --> 0:25:32.632 Just get out there, wear something bright and colourful. 0:25:32.832 --> 0:25:35.513 So you'll definitely stand out a bit like the covers 0:25:35.513 --> 0:25:38.353 of your books there, Colleen. They kind of stand out 0:25:38.352 --> 0:25:38.913 and grab you. 0:25:38.953 --> 0:25:40.633 Yeah. That's me. Hey, I don't want to just sit 0:25:40.632 --> 0:25:44.073 back and, you know, blend into the the normal pleb 0:25:44.072 --> 0:25:46.552 of life. I want to I want to be out 0:25:46.552 --> 0:25:48.392 there showing myself. 0:25:48.392 --> 0:25:51.312 Thanks very much, Colleen. So I want to remind people 0:25:51.312 --> 0:25:54.433 once again, if you've got diabetes, keep track of it, 0:25:54.433 --> 0:25:57.273 look after yourself, look after your health, and be good 0:25:57.273 --> 0:26:01.032 to yourself. And also remember to register as an organ 0:26:01.032 --> 0:26:03.952 donor if you haven't already. And also, it's important to 0:26:03.993 --> 0:26:06.312 remind your friends and family that that's the case, that 0:26:06.312 --> 0:26:09.312 you've done that and help support those people who are 0:26:09.312 --> 0:26:13.392 supporting others and help support research into these medical conditions 0:26:13.392 --> 0:26:16.993 and medical treatments. Colleen. We've run out of time now, 0:26:16.993 --> 0:26:19.273 so I'd like to thank you very much for joining 0:26:19.273 --> 0:26:21.312 us once again on the Vision Australia Radio. 0:26:21.592 --> 0:26:25.753 Thank you very much, Simon, for having me back on. And, um, 0:26:25.913 --> 0:26:28.073 look forward to coming back on again, hopefully with my 0:26:28.072 --> 0:26:30.493 new book being released and published. 0:26:30.612 --> 0:26:33.773 Congratulations on that. And thank you very much. It's been 0:26:33.773 --> 0:26:36.292 a delight to have you in the studio. What an 0:26:36.292 --> 0:26:39.012 energy this woman has, folks. And thanks once again for 0:26:39.013 --> 0:26:41.572 joining me here in the studio of Vision Australia Radio 0:26:41.572 --> 0:26:44.092 and speak to you next time. Bye for now. Cheers. 0:26:56.213 --> 0:26:58.852 That concludes In Plain Sight for this week. Join us 0:26:58.852 --> 0:27:01.973 at the same time next week on Vision Australia Radio 0:27:02.332 --> 0:27:07.173 via Radio Digital and online at VA radio.org. You can 0:27:07.173 --> 0:27:10.612 also listen on demand by searching for In Plain Sight 0:27:10.612 --> 0:27:14.493 by Vision Australia Radio. Wherever you get your podcasts, or 0:27:14.493 --> 0:27:17.812 ask your smart device to play in Plain Sight by 0:27:17.812 --> 0:27:20.213 Vision Australia Radio. Thanks for listening. 0:27:20.453 --> 0:27:21.092 Thank you.