Simon Keith never imagined he’d see 60.
When he underwent a heart transplant in 1986, doctors gave him a coin-flip chance of surviving another seven years. Instead, he became the first professional athlete to play his sport with a transplanted heart – and now, nearly four decades later, he’s organizing the biggest event of his life in his hometown of Victoria.
“I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I’d be 60 years old,” Keith said. “We just had our first granddaughter. So yeah, things are good.”
Keith’s story begins in England, but it truly took root in Victoria, where he grew up and blossomed into a standout soccer player.
After attending Mount Douglas Secondary School, he earned a scholarship to play at the University of Victoria. There, his skills caught the attention of national scouts considering him for Canada’s 1986 World Cup roster.
But while at UVic, Keith was struck by myocarditis – a virus that attacks and deteriorates the heart muscle.
At the time, he wasn’t eligible for a transplant in Canada. So he returned to England and received the life-saving procedure at Papworth Hospital in London.
After surgery, Keith had the courage to return to the field – this time at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. That led to the start of a professional career in 1989, when he was drafted into the Major Indoor Soccer League. He would go on to play in Cleveland, Winnipeg, Montreal and eventually, back home in Victoria.
Now, Keith is bringing it all full circle.
The Heart of Gold Gala and Concert is set for Aug. 23 at the Victoria Conference Centre. It marks the first major Canadian event hosted by The Simon Keith Foundation – a landmark moment for a man who once sat by Lake Cowichan with friends, dreaming of raising $10,000 to help a family in need.
“Ten years later, we’ve raised $10 million,” Keith said. “We’ve helped thousands of families, and it’s taken on this life of its own.”
Since its launch in 2012, the foundation has supported children undergoing life-saving transplants and advocated for organ donation. That mission remains urgent: as of April 1, 156 organ transplants have been performed in B.C. this year, with 638 patients still waiting. Nationally, as of December, 3,427 Canadians were on waitlists.
“People rally around a family when a child needs a transplant,” Keith said. “They hold fundraisers, bring potluck dinners – but after the transplant, people go back to their lives. And that family, and that kid, is left managing something that never goes away.”
Keith knows that reality all too well. In 2019, he underwent a second heart transplant, along with a kidney transplant. Still, he’s never stopped advocating.
The gala will be more than a one-night event. The weekend will include a VIP gathering at a private home on Friday, golf outings, and an after-party at the Strathcona Hotel to cap it all off. The concert lineup is still under wraps, but Keith said four major acts are booked.
More than 600 guests are expected at the main event, and support has poured in from across the city.
“I just walk into a room, see one of my old pals and ask for help – and they open their checkbook,” Keith said. “The response has been incredible.”
Planning the gala has brought together 50 to 75 volunteers, all working toward a shared vision. And while raising money is a key goal, Keith said success will be measured by something less tangible.
“It’s not a number. It’s not whether the food tastes good or the music was great,” he said. “It’s that feeling you have inside you. That’s how we’ll know.”
Whether the Heart of Gold Gala becomes an annual tradition is still undecided, but one thing is certain – Victoria was the only place it could begin.
“Victoria’s home,” Keith said. “It’s where I learned to play sport, where I learned to live life, where I learned to love people and to fight. So yeah, there was only one choice.”
