I had no idea what to set for a fundraising goal when I started this journey and being half-way there with 6 weeks to go makes me think that I set a fairly realistic one.
If you are wondering why I chose the Heart and Stroke foundation, it's mainly due to loosing my father to a heart attack on July 30, 2003.
I had been traveling Australia with my boyfriend, Stu, for around 10 months - living the dream in the back of our 1983 Ford Falcon. My parents had just started there own 4 week adventure Down Under and we were going to meet up with them to do a 4 day hike on an island off the east coast. They had bought new camping gear, including an outback oven - we were going to camp and eat in style - fresh brownies after a long hike - I think so!! I could tell my father was getting pretty excited to travel as shortly before they left home he confided in me that he had been practicing his driving with his left foot. I, as any respectful daughter should, laughed at him and then explained that even though they drove on the opposite side of the road in Australia the foot pedals were exactly the same as at home. I also received an email showing the new camping gear, hiking clothes and the results of the brownies they had cooked up in the camping oven in the back yard - nothing worse than ruining the brownies on the hike!
Just three days before our rendevous, my father, Gary Ames (1951-2003), had a heart attack and died.
Looking back on the past ten years there are so many things that I wish my dad could have been a part of - meeting my sisters two children, getting to know Bryan - my fiance, seeing how I've matured from the 23 year old he sent off half way around the world with a man he had only met once (the week before the trip no less). As always, there has been some good things to come out of a bad situation - my mother and I have become much closer and my mom met an amazing man to share her life with (and some of her wine).
So, what I'm trying to say is the reason I chose the Heart and Stroke foundation was so daughters can be walked down the aisle by their fathers on their wedding day, so grandsons can know their grandfathers by more than just the photos on the mantles and that moms and dads can grow old and cranky together.
Love you dad -