When Ben died in April last year, my family and Bens friends were supported (and are still being supported) and helped through our grief by an amazing charity called Cardiac Risk in the Young. Their vision is the prevent young cardiac deaths through awareness, free screening and research and to support affected families.
To try to say thank you for all their support, on September 3rd eight of Bens friends decided to walk the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. Chloe and I went along to provide support for them during their walk, (my knees aren’t quite up to a 24 mile trek and unfortunately Chloe has inherited my knees !) meeting them at 2 points and being there at the start and finish to encourage them and make sure they all had enough Jelly Babies, Bananas and Beers to sustain them until they could get to the pub after climbing the last of the 3 Peaks. The Jelly Babies worked a treat ! Although I think the beers they all had at the top of each peak helped ! Ben loved to have what he called “Car beers” if he was on his way to a gig or other event (obviously he wasn’t driving !) so they all had a beer for him at the top of each one. He would have loved that.
It was a very long day, starting at 7.30 am and not finishing until 9pm after climbing Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen y Ghent. It was a really emotional day too, especially at the end when they all appeared, exhausted and tired at the pub, where we were waiting for them with a well earned pint or 3. We all sat outside in the pouring rain and they compared aching muscles and blistered feet but all decided it was absolutely worth it. They all said lots of reminiscing was done en route (and tears). Ben couldn’t wish for better friends.
The donations so far stand at £5656 and I cant quite believe how much we have raised ! For anyone who has donated I’m eternally grateful as Chloe will need the ongoing support from the charity in years to come. Please, if anyone has any worries around possible Heart issues in young people, find out when there is a screening event near you and go !
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Marie (Ben’s mum) x
