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Marathon in Aid of the David Lewis Centre - Can You Help? |
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Written by Simon Howard
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Sunday, 18 January 2009 |
 Aaron J. Ashforth
To lose anyone is a tragedy but you just don’t expect to lose your children. Aaron had epilepsy and when he had seizures they were quite severe but you honestly never expected one to take his life. Until March 2009 we will not know the real reason when there is an inquest but we believe there is a chance he may have had a rare form of epilepsy called SUDEP (Sudden Death From Epilepsy ).
 Aaron was the most fantastic individual you could wish to meet and he just brightened the lives of everyone he came into contact with. He was the life and soul of any party or social gathering as his Facebook profile bears testimony to. As with all your children we loved him very dearly, but until this tragedy never realised that so much of the world also loved him. He may have only been 21 years of age but he packed more into those 21 years than most people do in 60 or 70.
His funeral was a fantastic occasion being a wonderful celebration of his life. The church was full with about 300 people. The music used was Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley), Only The Good Die Young (Queen), Hear You Me (Jimmy Eat World), November Rain (Guns n Roses), Knockin on Heavens Door (Guns n Roses) and Jerusalem.
He was a keen snowboarder having visited places such as Val D’Isere, Val Thorens and Tignes. Since being little he had always wanted to go to Canada and this was his planned destination for October 2009 when he was going to live and work in Banff for 12 months. He had a great future in front of him and had everything to live for and I feel like I have been robbed of a wonderful part of my life.
 Aaron J. Ashforth
We are raising funds for The David Lewis Centre in Alderley Edge in Cheshire. The David Lewis Centre is the largest UK provider of a range of medical, educational, residential and assessment services for people with complex epilepsy and other neurological conditions, including learning disability and challenging behaviour.
 Throughout the tragedy I have had to cope with since the end of October 2008, I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from members of the OFC. This group is a credit to all of the members. I have been supported by emails, texts, phone calls and also people who have walked with me since the tragedy as I try to reassemble my life. We are all lucky to have such a group of friends that we know are there when we need. The OFC has proved to me over the last few months, not just to be a group of walkers but a circle of close friends. I knew this before through the way the club supported Lorraine Barks but experiencing it myself enhanced this opinion.
I know the current climate is one of financial difficulty but I would really appreciate if people have a pound or two to spare to consider sponsoring me for my half marathon. The easiest method is to use the Just Giving link below. May I pass on my appreciation to all my OFC friends for the support they have given and thank you all in anticipation of any sponsorship you may give me:-
GIVE YOUR SUPPORT TO SIMON HOWARD |
| HAVE YOU SEEN? |
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 Walking on mountains gives people in this club an immense amount of pleasure. The familiar haunts of The Lake District and other 'home' mountains give a feeling of security and of a re-acquaintance with old friends. Walking a familiar fell in changing seasons makes it like ascending the peak anew. However, it is new adventures which spark new vigour. As such the Hiley's recent jaunt with dog sleds in Alaska or James Batchelor's ascent of Kala Pattar in the Himalaya are two such adventures other less mortals might never consider. If you do get itchy feet to try out something new, you need a decent guidebook and I have found one particular publisher really useful. This is in no way a sponsored advertisement feature but a quick discussion on a great little publishing house. Do you have your favourite books or publisher? Let us know.
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 As a child I remembered many famous mountaineering figures apart from the obvious character of AW more renowned for his walking exploits. However, other names featured in my perceptions of the high places. Some of them like Tom Weir featured on television, others like W. H. Murray, entertained me from the cover of a book, whilst to many the man in this article spoke to us all from the regular feature in The Manchester Guardian newspaper. A. Harry Griffin wrote an amazing Country Diary for nigh on fifty three years. In this time he took many on an amazing journey outside, what was for many, their urban homes. |
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