A 30-MINUTE motorbike ride around Ballarat was the perfect early birthday gift for 71-year-old Brenda Hughes, the oldest living Victorian with cystic fibrosis.
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The Ballarat resident, whose birthday is next month, took the joy ride courtesy the Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association (VMMA) and Cystic Fibrosis Victoria.
“It was wonderful,” Ms Hughes said.
“I loved the wind in my face.”
Diagnosed with the disease at nine, Ms Hughes, one of seven siblings, never took it seriously until she lost her brother to cystic fibrosis at a young age.
“I lost my brother at 30 to cystic fibrosis and that’s when I realised it could happen to me too,” she said.
“There are limitation because of the disease but I have always tried to fight them.”
Life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis is currently around 37 years.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common inherited, life-threatening disorder in Australia. More than 700 Victorians living with it need significant daily medications and physiotherapy and frequent hospitalisation.
VMMA member ‘Taxi,’ Colin Fletcher, said the organisation’s aim was to help people.
“I was happy to give Brenda the ride,” Mr Fletcher said.
“It was worth it to see the smile on her face.”
For information visit www.cysticfibrosis.org.au/vic/ and vmma.net.au/