A heartfelt quest for Georg

Institute news

He’s an ethical hacker by day and a weekend warrior in training for the Baker Institute IRONMAN 70.3 in Geelong.

Georg Thomas will take on the gruelling triathlon in memory of his dad, who passed away from heart disease more than 10 years ago, and as a role model for his three-year-old son.

As well as helping him to lead a healthy lifestyle, the 38-year-old security expert at Corrs Westgarth Chambers says the training helps relieve stress and provides mental clarity.

Georg is no stranger to the 70.3 IRONMAN events, having taken on several already including Hawaii and Mooloolaba with his sights also set on the full IRONMAN in Busselton later this year.

With a sedentary job that sees him spend large amounts of time in front of a computer, he says this provides great motivation to be active.

His dad suffered a heart attack in 2008 and underwent bypass surgery but died in 2009. Georg recalls a hectic time visiting his father in The Alfred hospital during the Black Saturday bushfires. While other family members who have recently died from heart disease are not far from his mind.

“As a result of my training, my three-year-old son has started to get more interested in running, swimming and cycling and I really want to encourage that,” he says.

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute is the naming rights sponsor of the IRONMAN event in Geelong on 23 February, with dozens of competitors raising vital funds for medical research into sudden cardiac death by joining the Team to Beat.

If you would like to support Georg and the team please donate.