Marcus - liver recipient, NSW

Our volunteers make an enormous contribution when it comes to raising awareness and increasing organ donation. A classic example is one of our NSW recruits, Marcus Sims. 

As NSW North Coast locals browse Valla Beach Markets for homegrown vegetables, they often see Marcus’s brightly painted 1914 Ford Model T. The antique vehicle is decorated with a board that reads: ‘Organ Donation Registration offers the Gift of Life.’ 

Marcus loves spreading the word about organ donation. He says it is his calling since he had a successful liver transplant ten years ago. 

‘I didn’t have long to live before I received the call that they had found a match for my liver. Everything was falling apart until that moment,’ he recalls. ‘Being on death’s door makes you realise you’re not going to live forever. You realise what’s important. For me, that meant helping my son restore his property, being with my wife, rescuing dogs from the RSPCA and encouraging people to register as organ donors.’ 

Marcus’s Model T is also a common sight at antique car shows, such as Macksville’s Rusty Iron Rally on the NSW North Coast. There, vintage tractor and car enthusiasts often stop to ask questions or simply have a chat. 

When they do, Marcus is always quick to tell them how easy it is to register at our website or on the Express Plus Medicare app. Either option takes less than a minute. 

‘It’s a very small way of giving back,’ he says.