Action is Eloquence

"Action is Eloquence"

"No vision and you perish; No ideal and you're lost;

your heart must ever cherish some faith at any cost.

Some hope, some dream to cling to,

some rainbow in the sky, some melody to sing to, some service that is high."

- Harriet Du Autermont

Heart disease knows no age or gender.

Dad and Ash were fit men. Ash was young and ambitious working off shore in a competitive industry making his mark on the world. Ash had just announced to his friends that he was about to marry the love of his life. My family and I were so full of joy and excitement that our dynamic, athletic and entrepreneurial friend was going to have it all. Though it feels Ashley was so prematurely stolen from us we do find solace in knowing he was the happiest he had ever been. Bass fishing, Pork Belly, Caprioskas, Mardi Gras, Tamarama, Fine dining, Spearfishing, Scuba diving to name a few things that often spark an image of Ash in our minds. There are certain people that cross our paths in life that light our day, ignite our hearts and forever smile with us through memories once shared. Ashley Hudson this is how we feel about you although we no longer walk the same soil we feel your everlasting presence.

Dad, well he was a character and my Dad, therefore my ultimate hero. Dad was a country lad at heart, my Steve Irwin. It took a lot to shake him down. I remember Dad fighting for a stable recovery for several months in hospital when I was 7. There had been a near fatal car accident. He and some mates were on their way to go surf fishing at the Coorong along the Murray Mouth, South Australia when their jeep rolled and pinned Dad under it face down in the sand. Through his hospital recovery, rehabilitation and years to follow where he had on-going complications and pain I never witnessed him play victim.

His courage also shone through when I was 8 and Dad was bitten on the hand by a King Brown snake. I remember it so clearly. Dad calmly summoned me, explained what had happened and that he needed me to assist tourniquet his hand, wrist and arm. I freaked. Dad remained calm then proceeded to drive my brother and I 10 minutes into town to the hospital. The nurse at the desk was stunned by Dads calm demeanour. In typical Dad fashion he was not happy about having to stay in hospital for 24 hours to be monitored post treatment. In the end I think the cute nurses made it all endurable.

Just before Dads sudden death he was suffering large amounts of stress and chest pain. He had taken himself to hospital on a couple of occasions fearing he was suffering a heart attack. Now to do this Dad had to be extraordinarily worried and not feeling right within himself. He was turned away with an angina spray and told he was stressed, that he was a healthy man and to take it easy. The hospital carried out a few fitness tests but failed to action critical testing such as an angiogram that would most likely have detected Dads condition. Dad was in the prime age bracket for heart attacks and other heart conditions. He was turned away on more than one occasion. This is where the need for awareness becomes incredibly important. You know your body better than any doctor and you are responsible for pushing harder for results when answers you are hearing do not sit right with you. For whatever reason Dad was not given or encouraged to have the test that could have possibly saved him. I urge you all to educate yourselves and those around you about heart disease and the measures you can take to prevent and detect it.

Dad was an adventurer and dreamt of travelling abroad. His thirst for knowledge and account of the World’s history would keep him at the throne as my hero. He never did leave our shores. I will honor him and carry thoughts of him with me to New York. By completing this run it is my aim to not only raise vital funds but to bring awareness to one of Australia’s largest killers in the hope of saving at least one life. To know Dad and Ash can still make a difference is of no surprise to me or those who had the honor of knowing them.

Your donation will aid vital research, education and support projects and as a result, you are helping to save many lives in NSW and beyond. It’s a wonderful achievement.

As the largest non-government funding body for cardiovascular research, the Heart Foundation over the last 53 years has invested the equivalent of approximately $370 million into research on the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. In 2013, nationally the heart foundation are investing $13.5 million directly into research. Reference: Sarah Hytner The Heart Foundation

This vital work would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters so I would like to thank you once again for your kind donation in support of the Heart Foundation’s important work.Your contribution no matter how micro will matter to those affected by heart disease and will undoubtedly aid a miracle.

www.micromiraclesmatter.com

      Dad & I January 2000, our Last photo together            Ash the morning of my wedding, a dapper looking best man!     

(For more information on Ischemic Heart diseases please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ischaemic_heart_disease)