HEART transplant recipient Mark Brewer never thought he would ski with his 98 year-old great aunt Hilda.
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But after representing Australia at the Winter World transplant games in Switzerland he did just that.
Mr Brewer of West Launceston was 32 when he was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy due to an auto immune condition called Sarcoidosis.
It left the fit man's heart functioning at 40 per cent and he was told he would eventually need a heart transplant.
It wasn't until 16 years later when his heart function fell below 15 per cent that he required an urgent heart transplant or he would die.
Luckily for Mr Brewer an anonymous man of the same age had donated his organs.
''Most of us only get one life...some of us get a second chance,'' Mr Brewer said.
The keen skier since 11 recently returned from the games where he competed in the slalom, dual slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom.
His best result was a commendable 6th in the slalom.
``Looking back before I had my transplant it would have been out of the question. It's made this all possible for me.''
Mr Brewer joined around 300 competitors from around the world, all whom had received a life-saving transplant of some kind.
''It was amazing to see how fit people were.''
He said the transplant had changed his perspective on life and reminded him to live it to the full.
On his bucket list was to return to Europe to ski with his 98 year-old great aunt Hilda before ''she retired.''
Great aunt Hilda was the youngest of Mr Brewer's grandfather (Ernie Stewart)'s siblings and lived in Scotland.
Mr Brewer said she and her husband David Jamieson had been like ``a second family'' to him as he travelled Europe in his 20s.
They set up a ski resort called Glenshee Ski Centre in Scotland and their daughters Helen and Sheila both represented Britain in the winter Olympic Games.
Over the years Mr Brewer and great aunt Hilda had kept in touch.
''(Aunt Hilda)'s always been there,'' Mr Brewer said.
''To think she is still skiing after all of these years is just mindboggling really.''
In her earlier years she worked as a journalist before marrying in 1939.
Mr Brewer said she had enjoyed a long and happy marriage with plenty of sport and holidays and a good healthy home cooked diet, which may have contributed to her longevity.
''If she doesn't go skiing she'd walk for an hour.''
Great Aunt Hilda inspires Mr Brewer to ski for as long as he can.
''I think the next thing I want to do is be at her 100th Birthday.''
Since returning from overseas Mr Brewer said he felt a new lease on life.
''What am I going to do next? That's what I'm thinking.''
Mr Brewer hopes his experience will encourage more people to become organ donors. Find out more about organ donation Here
