Heart transplant no barrier to medal haul

PLENTY OF TICKER: Bryan Eckersley with two of his medals at the New Zealand Masters Games in Wanganui last week. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER A-040214WCLGMASTERS6

Rotorua's Bryan Eckersley has won two medals on his mountain bike at the 2015 New Zealand Masters Games, about a decade after suffering a heart attack while riding his bike in the forest.

Eckersley regularly takes part in the New Zealand Masters Games, Australian Transplant Games and World Transplant Games to build awareness around organ donation in New Zealand.

After his heart attack in 2004, he underwent a successful heart transplant in 2005.

He has since picked up more than 40 medals at all the games he has attended around the world.

His most recent haul came at the 2015 New Zealand Masters Games in Wanganui last week, where he won four medals - two gold, one silver and one bronze.

"I want to promote organ donation awareness and try to encourage people, even if they think they are healthy, to get out and exercise," he said.

His medals in Wanganui came in the over-60 downhill mountain bike event (gold), sports accuracy team challenge (gold), 300m cycling grass sprint (silver) and 70-plus indoor rowing machine event (bronze).

He said his favourites were usually the mountain bike events.

"I enjoy the mountain biking, I don't do the cross country because I have always been a sprinter. The downhill is short and sharp and so too is the grass sprint."

He said organ donation was low in New Zealand and it was important people were aware that being a donor can save lives.

Eckersley, 70, will be out near the Farmers store today helping collect money for Heart Week, the annual fundraiser for the Heart Foundation.

He said there would be people across town collecting today in Rotorua.

Eckersley also thanked his wife for her backing over the years: "I'm very grateful for the support my wife Carolyn gives me."