A St. John’s family will have the opportunity this weekend to see – and hear – the gift of life their loved one gave to another.

Ben Penney was just 23 when he took his own life last year.

Ben was an organ donor, and his heart now beats inside 38-year-old Adam Roberts, who is originally from this province.

Roberts has flown in to St. John’s to be a part of the second annual Ben Penney Memorial Softball Tournament, tonight and tomorrow at Mundy Pond Field.

Roberts was born with a heart condition known as the “Newfoundland Curse” or ARVC, which progressed “pretty severely and pretty quickly.”

Since getting Ben’s heart he now feels “amazing.”

He calls it an “honour” to get to sit with the Penney family, noting that he has brought a stethoscope with him, for the family to hear the heart beating.

Ben’s uncle, Glen Spurgeon, was the first to meet Roberts.

When he first met Roberts he said “oh my God Adam, you have Ben’s eyes.” Glen says families can override the decision on organ donation if they so wish. But, top that he says “look at this guy sitting next to me.”

“This is his life because of Ben. (The family) is so overwhelmed to be able to listen to his heartbeat, and that’s Ben’s heart they’re listening to.”