The 35-year-old Bendigo resident was given a new lease on life in 2009, thanks to a kidney and pancreas transplant.

Ms Kurzke is now spreading the word about organ donation and will participate in tomorrow’s Walk For Life at Lake Weeroona.

The event will begin at 7.30am and is part of this week’s DonateLife Week activities.

Ms Kurzke’s transplant journey began in 2008 when her kidneys started to fail.

“I was a type one diabetic since the age of eight,” she said.

“Due to the diabetes it affected my kidney function.

“About the age of 30 my kidneys started to go downhill.

“I was put on the list for a new kidney and had the transplant on March 17, 2009.”

Ms Kurzke also received a new pancreas.

“My diabetes went away straight away,” she said.

“Without the kidney transplant I wouldn’t still be sitting here today – I’d probably be in a hospital on dialysis.

“I’m A-negative, which is quite a rare blood type, so I jumped up the list of people waiting for donors because I was the best match.”

Ms Kurzke said everything happened very quickly.

“I got a phone call at 10.30pm one night and I had to be at the hospital by 8am the next day,” she said.

“You don’t find out much about the donor but I did send the family a letter to say thank you.

“All I know is that it was someone from Tasmania and they were 40 years old.

“The transplant has given me a second chance at life.

“About 12 months after the transplant I decided to start a special education degree.

“I decided I wanted to do something to help other people and help kids.”

Ms Kurzke’s story will be published online at www.donatelife.gov.au in the DonateLife Book of Life.

According to the website, Australia is a world leader for successful transplant outcomes but has one of the lowest donation rates in the developed world.

About 1600 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists.

“It’s so easy to register as an organ donor,” Ms Kurzke said.