A brave teenager with cystic fibrosis who against huge odds jet skied the mighty Murray River in seven weeks in 2011, is back to do it again in just seven days following a double lung transplant.

Recovered from life-saving surgery, 16 year old Coen Ashton from Maryborough in Queensland will tackle the 2,000 kilometre journey during DonateLife Week 2014 (23 February – 2 March) to encourage all Australians to have the chat that saves lives and ensure the organ and tissue donation decisions of loved ones are known.

“I was born with cystic fibrosis which made it really hard to breathe. I was suffocating and couldn’t laugh without painful coughing, and I could only dream of running, let alone jet skiing,” Coen said.

“I had to wait for a long time for a new set of lungs. Now with my new lungs I’m coming back to jet ski the Murray to prove to everyone that being an organ donor and knowing the wishes of your loved ones is essential – it saved my life.

“If you have decided to become an organ and tissue donor, you need to register your decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register and most importantly, have the chat with your loved ones. In 2011, I helped get 1,000 new names on the Organ Donor Register. This year I’d like to double that number.

“It’s important that people understand that by becoming an organ and tissue donor they could one day transform the lives of 10 or more people,” Coen added.

Coen’s adventure will see him jet ski the entire navigable section of the Murray River from Goolwa on the South Australian coast to Yarrawonga in country Victoria, shadowed by his mother Dawn, father Mark and younger brother Kai in a support vessel.

“Coen’s Murray journey mirrors the challenging path he and many other young Australians with cystic fibrosis face as they struggle to take part in simple activities most of us take for granted,” said Cystic Fibrosis Australia CEO David Jack.

“Coen’s story is an inspiration for everyone on the transplant waiting list, including those with cystic fibrosis and his message of hope and courage cannot be ignored.

“For many people like Coen, a lung transplant is their only hope. The good news is that breakthrough medication is being developed to turn off the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis.

“Medication that stops cystic fibrosis in its tracks is the key to avoiding lung transplants for many people with cystic fibrosis,” he added.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common genetic life-threatening disease affecting Australian children. Affected from birth, people with the condition have difficulty breathing due to a build-up of mucus that clogs their lungs and digestive system.

The ‘Cystic Fibrosis Gene’ is carried by one in 25 Australians, most of whom are unaware they are carriers. If two carriers of the faulty gene have a baby, there is a one-in-four chance that the child will develop cystic fibrosis.

“I can’t wait to get out on the water and feel the wind in my face and fresh air in my lungs,” Coen concluded.

Coen’s Murray voyage will begin on Saturday 22 February and end on Sunday March 2, to coincide with DonateLife Week 2014. An allowance of two days is provided for rest, bad weather or unforeseen circumstances.

This project is sponsored by the Organ and Tissue Authority, who also lead DonateLife Week, the national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation in Australia.

CEO of the Organ and Tissue Authority Yael Cass said, “Coen’s commitment to raising awareness of organ and tissue donation is inspirational. We value his support in encouraging Australians to register their donation decisions on the Australian Organ Donor Register and to discuss their decision with family members.”

A DonateLife information stand manned by a specialist nurse will be located at select overnight stops along the Murray, to provide organ and tissue donation advice to the local community.

The journey will kick off with a celebration and lunch in Mannum, with a party planned for the conclusion of the voyage in Yarrawonga.

This February, Coen Ashton’s itinerary is as follows: