Today’s ride was for Olive, a very special Heart Kid
17 May 2019
Stage 10 La Bella Italia. “Riding for Olive”
Today’s ride was for one of the very special Heart Kids and her family who my wife Annie supported over the last 18 months, Olive.
As I’ve cycled through Sicily and Southern Italy, almost every hillside is planted in olive trees. It’s made me reflect on baby Olive, who passed away when she was 9 months of age in August 2018. Olive was born with a heart condition and had her first surgery, which was open heart at Starship Hospital at just 6 weeks of age. All up, Olive spent 7 months of her very short life in hospital.
Heart Kids, especially Annie, supported Olive, her Mum and Dad, and sister Willow, through a hugely challenging journey. Unfortunately, it was a journey that Olive didn’t survive, leaving a huge hole in so many people’s lives.
In November 2018 on what would have been her first birthday, a memorial was held for Olive at her family’s farm. Every guest brought an olive tree, which has been planted as an olive grove in her memory. All up there are over 100 olive trees that will mature, and bear fruit, in a way that Olive never got the chance to do.
Ciao from Italy
David
🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️ for 💔💔💔
Today’s stats
Distance: 139km
Time: 7 hours 4 mins
Elevation gain: 2609 metres
Punctures: 1