Driven by loss

MORE than six months after his mother died of a massive heart attack, Nick Lyngcoln finds it hard to control his emotions.
“We knew she was unwell and in hospital but we just didn’t expect to lose her like we did,” Mr Lyngcoln said.
He and his brothers Daniel and Peter had gone to Bali to celebrate the life of a friend but suddenly received a phone call from their mother Anne, aged 64, in her hospital bed.
“We thought she was recovering but she rang and said to us that she didn’t think she was going to survive the day so we did everything we could to get home but she passed away before we got on the plane,” Mr Lyngcoln said.
The three Lyngcoln brothers, along with their father Peter, are channelling their grief and earlier this year formed Annie’s Army, with the aim of raising $10,000 each year to help ensure other families do not go through what they did.
Nick has already taken part in a charity fight night and has just returned from trekking Kokoda as a fundraiser with brother Daniel.
And he’s signed up to take part in the Mount Franklin Cardiac Challenge this year.
“I know it’s going to be hard, but nothing is as hard as losing our mother,” he said.
Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe said it was extremely sad to hear stories like Nick’s, but amazing that his family was channelling their grief into such a worthy cause.
“We know there are many people who do this bike ride, who are motivated by a personal loss of knowledge of a loved one with heart disease,” Ms Duncombe said.
“Not all of us can be cardiologists but this is a real and tangible way that people can ride their bike or trek Kokoda to make a difference to local families dealing with heart conditions,” she said.
Funds raised this year will go towards a Vivid Echocardiogram ultrasound system for the cardiac department.