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On workdays, SAHMRI PhD Candidate Joyce Mugabushaka keeps herself busy studying how gut bacteria affects the long-term health of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) survivors, but her quest to save lives doesn’t stop there.

Outside the lab, Joyce spends her free time as a volunteer Event Medic and Skills Coordinator with St John Ambulance SA, a role she’s passionately embraced for the past five years.

“I got involved in St John Ambulance so I could use my free time in a constructive way for people other than myself,” she said.

“I love learning about diseases and how the body works. St John has allowed me to see how some of the things I learn are put into practice in an acute setting.”

Joyce is one of a few volunteers selected to represent the state in the national St John Ambulance Drive-a-thon, a nine-week lap of the country that aims to train 5000 Australians in CPR and delivering Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to communities across the different states and territories.

Setting off yesterday, Joyce is now leading the tour on its final leg between Alice Springs and Adelaide from December 8-13^th, raising awareness and training people in CPR along the road.

“My role at St John has allowed me to meet new people and teach. I love learning. It's a privilege to be able to share what I know and learn so much from those around me.”

You can find more information about the St John Ambulance Drive-a-thon here.