More than 700 people gathered at Darling Harbour on Monday to participate in a "Thank You" walk commemorating over six decades of organ transplantation in Australia. The event aimed to honour organ donors and raise awareness about the importance of donation.

Among the attendees were twin sisters Briana Harvey and Alissa Allan, both aged 45, who have each undergone liver transplants. The sisters, who suffer from the rare condition Amyloidosis—a disease that frequently leads to organ dysfunction—highlighted the personal significance of the event. Ms. Harvey received her liver transplant in 2023, while Ms. Allan underwent the same procedure a year later.

Their connection to organ donation runs deeper, as their late brother Jonathon became an organ donor in 1998 following a fatal motor vehicle accident. Reflecting on their family’s unique experience, Ms. Harvey noted the emotional complexity of receiving life-saving organs years after their brother’s donation. "Fast forward 25 years plus and we're the ones who are requiring organs to be able to live, it's a special thing for us to have gone through," she said.

Ms. Allan expressed empathy for transplant recipients who face the procedure without close family members by their side. "I feel for the people who don't have someone they're doing it with because there are so many unknowns," she said.

While organ donation is voluntary in Australia and not mandated by law, the event sought to encourage individuals to consider registering as donors, emphasizing the critical impact such decisions can have on saving lives.

The annual walk serves as both a tribute to those who have donated organs and a reminder of ongoing needs within the transplant community as medical advancements continue to improve patient outcomes nationwide.