It starts with a story. It ends with a second chance.
Founded by heart transplant survivor Jayden Cummins, we are a uniquely personal Australian charity using real stories to spark life-saving conversations about organ donation and heart health.
Because this isn’t just about statistics - it’s about people.
It’s about the families who say yes. The ones still waiting. And those who never got the call.
Through powerful talks, emotionally charged video content, and purpose-driven merchandise, we connect with students, workplaces, and communities to change hearts, minds, and lives.
We speak from lived experience.
We lead with emotion.
And we give back - with 100% of merchandise profits funding cardiac and transplant research.
Forever Grateful is more than a story of survival.
It’s about sharing the stories that make survival possible.
They don’t just move us - they reach us, and have the power to rewrite what comes next.
When a story finds the right heart at the right time, it can change the ending.
Three Core Pillars
At the heart of Forever Grateful is a simple mission: to encourage discussion about organ donation and heart health before it’s too late, to celebrate survival and resilience, and to support the medical research that makes second chances possible. We bring this mission to life through three core pillars - in-person talks, video storytelling, and our Survivor Shirts initiative.
In-Person Talks
Delivered in schools, workplaces, and community settings, these talks share raw, honest accounts of heart failure, transplant, and survival. Rooted in lived experience, they create powerful emotional connection, spark meaningful conversations, and leave audiences with a deeper understanding of the human impact of organ donation - and the importance of talking about it.
Video Content
We create short, emotionally resonant films designed for social media, classrooms, and national awareness campaigns. These include slice-of-life interviews, conversations with donor families, and powerful survivor stories - each crafted to humanise the topic, challenge assumptions, and help normalise the conversation around organ donation in a relatable and respectful way.
Survivor Shirts
Survivor Shirts aren’t just clothing - they’re a quiet tribute to resilience.
Worn to remember, to honour, or to mark how far you’ve come. Each design carries a story, and 100% of profits support cardiac and transplant research through the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Wear the story. Share the message. And help fund the science that makes second chances possible.
Why Is Awareness So Important?
Organ Donation
In 2024, around 183,000 people died in Australia. Yet just 527 of them became organ donors.
Yes, you read that right - only 527.
From those donors, 1,328 people were given a second chance to wake up, to hold someone they love, to keep going. On average, each donor helped 2 - 3 others keep writing their story.
But here’s the hard truth: In Australia, families have the final say at the bedside. And in 2024, 47% of families declined the request to donate - even in cases where their loved one had registered to be a donor. Why? In most cases, the reason is not because they’re against it, but because they simply never had the conversation. Families are left to make impossible decisions at a time of immense grief without knowing what their loved one wanted.
What does that mean in real terms? At any one time, around 1,800 Australians are on the waiting list for an organ. It means that, based on last year's statistics, around 1,200 people never received the life-saving phone call they were waiting for. That’s almost equivalent to the national road toll.
This is why we do what we do. This is why having the conversation matters. Because organ donation starts long before the hospital - it starts at home.
At the right moment, a story becomes more than words - it becomes a lifeline.
One story can change a mind. And one conversation can save a life. Or seven.
Let’s change the numbers. Let’s talk.
More information can be found on the official Donate Life website
Ischaemic Heart Disease
Ischaemic Heart Disease is Australia's - and the world's - number one killer, yet many cases are preventable through early detection, lifestyle changes, and medical intervention. Here’s why awareness is so important:
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Early Detection Saves Lives – Many heart conditions develop silently. Raising awareness helps people recognise symptoms early, seek medical help sooner, and prevent life-threatening events like heart attacks or heart failure.
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Prevention Through Lifestyle Choices – Public awareness encourages healthier habits, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking, all of which significantly reduce heart disease risk.
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Encouraging Regular Check-ups – Many people ignore risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Awareness campaigns can encourage routine health screenings, leading to earlier diagnosis and better management.
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Dispelling Myths & Reducing Stigma – Many still believe heart disease only affects older men, but it’s a leading cause of death in women too. Awareness efforts help correct misconceptions and ensure at-risk groups take preventive action.
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Advancing Research & Funding – Greater public awareness often leads to increased support for medical research, policy changes, and funding for better treatments and life-saving innovations.
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Highlighting the Need for Organ Donation – Heart failure is a major reason people require transplants. Awareness about heart disease naturally ties into the need for organ donors, helping save lives through transplantation.
By educating people about risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures, we can empower individuals to take charge of their heart health and reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease.
Ongoing Initiatives
Education Program for Years 10 - 12
One story. One conversation. A lifetime of impact.
Through powerful video content and honest, engaging talks, we help young Australians understand just how important one simple conversation can be - and how it could one day save a life.
We speak directly to high school students with honesty, compassion, and lived experience. Our founder, a heart transplant recipient, brings the reality of heart failure, survival, and second chances into the room in a way that truly connects.
Forever Grateful is proud to be working closely with Donate Life NSW to develop a compelling and factual organ donation narrative aligned with the Organ and Tissue Authority’s National Education Strategy. This initiative will complement and strengthen the national education program, with a focus on relevance, impact, and accessibility - particularly in schools across regional and remote Australia.
We are committed to providing valuable resources for the Donate Life team, state education departments, and local educators - helping ensure every student, no matter where they are, can take part in a conversation that saves lives.
READ MORE about this important program.
Speaking Engagements and Video Collatoral
Forever Grateful offers expert speaking services and high-quality video collateral to raise awareness about cardiac health, heart disease prevention, and organ donation. Through engaging presentations, real-life storytelling, and medically backed insights, these services educate diverse audiences - including corporate teams, community groups, schools, and healthcare professionals - on the importance of heart health and early intervention.
Complementing these talks, Forever Grateful will provide compelling video content, from patient testimonials to expert interviews and educational animations, ensuring key messages resonate long after the presentation. By delivering impactful, informative, and inspiring content, Forever Grateful empowers individuals and organisations to take proactive steps in improving heart health and supporting organ donation initiatives. These videos will also be made available for sharing on social media to promote general awareness in the community.
READ MORE about this important program.
Local Initiatives - St Vincent's Hospital
Beyond promoting awareness around heart health and organ donation, Forever Grateful is committed to raising funds for local initiatives that support our world-class medical institutions. Public funding gaps often leave facilities like the renowned Heart Lung Clinic at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital stretched to their limits.
Founder, Jayden, volunteers weekly at the clinic, offering patients support and guidance based on his personal journey. This hands-on involvement allows him to identify practical opportunities to enhance the lives of vulnerable patients awaiting life-saving heart or lung transplants.
The following initiatives, while modest in cost, have the potential to make a profound difference to patients during their treatment and recovery at this world-leading clinic.
Emergency Overnight Packs
For those on the transplant list, frequent and unexpected hospital stays are an unfortunate reality. A routine clinic appointment can often result in an extended hospital admission, a situation made even more challenging for patients who have travelled from out of town.
To help ease this burden, Forever Grateful plans to create small emergency packs for patients facing unplanned stays. These packs will include essential items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, travel-sized toiletries, socks or slippers, an eye mask and earplugs, a generic phone charger, a notepad and pen, a puzzle book, and a small healthy snack to provide comfort and support during these difficult times.
150 packs per annum
Phone Charging Stations
Forever Grateful aims to install phone chaging stations in the two Heart Lung Clinic waiting rooms. A charged phone is crucial for helping patients and families stay connected, informed, and supported during critical times and often lengthy waiting periods. It is vital for communication with loved ones, access to medical information, and coordination of care. It also provides a source of comfort and distraction during long or stressful waits.
This simple yet impactful amenity ensures inclusivity and preparedness, enhancing the overall hospital experience.
Main waiting room - 1 x phone charging locker
Specialist waiting room - 1 x wall-mount as pictured
Survivor Shirts
Survivor Shirts is more than merchandise - it’s a quiet declaration of resilience. Born in a hospital ward during Jayden Cummins’ recovery from a heart transplant, each design carries the weight of survival, the beauty of scars, and the strength found in simply enduring. These shirts honour the journey through trauma, treatment, and the moments in between - worn not for attention, but for truth. They represent gratitude, humility, and the quiet power of those still here, still going. And with 100% of profits funding cardiac and transplant research through the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, every shirt worn is a story shared - and a way to give back to the science that made survival possible.
Survivor Shirts is wholly owned by Forever Grateful, and 100% of the profit from every Survivor Shirts sale is donated to The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
Survivor Shirts is temporarily paused as it undergoes a complete site bebuild. We are moving from a dropshipping model to an in-house production model which will mean greater control over shipping and production, and higher returns for our supported charity - The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Insititute.
The Survivor Shirt range is also being expanded to include other merchandise that shows the world just what you are made of.
Social Campaigns
If I Could Talk To My Donor
It’s the most precious of gifts, and one that we can never say thank you for in person. But what if we could? A sensitive exploration of the devastating, beautiful duality of life and loss that defines organ donation, This 3 minute short film articulates aloud what transplant recipients might say to their donors if they had the chance.
What Is A Hero?
What is a hero? We asked a group of kids that very question. Every day, Australia sees many brave heroes step up at a time when we need them the most. Sometimes, it's the ones we don't hear about that make the greatest impact on people's lives.
"Organ Donation is one of the purest examples of all that is good about humanity. It transcends race, colour, creed, class, age, and gender. It is simply the most precious gift that one person can give to another."
Jayden Cummins - Heart transplant recipient and Founder, Forever Grateful
