October 15, 2011 The Courier-Mail Sophie Elsworth
Coen Ashton, 14, awarded a Child of Courage medal in the Pride of Australia Awards
TEENAGER Coen Ashton yesterday was awarded a Child of Courage medal and will celebrate his win with a sweet drink.
The 14-year-old, who has cystic fibrosis and is diabetic, was recognised for his outstanding efforts raising awareness about organ donation at the annual Pride of Australia Awards in Brisbane.
"I'm just an average kid who tries to do what he can to help out and try to raise awareness for organ donation and anything to help others to get better," Coen said.
Even waiting for a double-lung transplant didn't stop him from completing a gruelling seven-week, 2000km jet-ski ride down the Murray River earlier this year to raise awareness about organ donation.
During the mammoth ride, more than 1000 people signed up to become organ donors after learning of the teenager's journey. But it did take its toll, with Coen spending months in an Adelaide hospital to recover from the trip.
The next stage is for him to go to the National awards in Sydney on Nov 22nd.
Coen and his family moved to Melbourne in early October, for him to go on the lung transplant list.
The wait has begun for a donor.
