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Nicola Acuta will take an emotional walk down
Memory Lane on Sunday so that others might be spared the heartache she has
suffered.
The young Bromley mum will join the 8km walk
across eight London's bridges in support of the charity, Cardiac Risk in the
Young (CRY).
She will make the trek in memory of her fiancé
Ryan who died in his sleep from an undiagnosed cardiac illness while on
holiday in Thailand two years ago.
Nicola is joining CRY and families whose lives
have been touched by this tragic condition to raise money for research.
It is her way of remembering the father of their
four-year-old son, Harley, and the man she had hoped to spend the rest of
her life with.
Here, in her own words, she tells the story that
changed her life forever.
"Ryan was a healthy man who hardly ever had a
cold. He went to Thailand visiting friends, but I thought Harley was
too young to go so we stayed at home.
"We spoke every day and on the Saturday he sounded
fine. He said he was really missing us and we were missing him loads.
I kept trying to call his mobile the next day, but
there was no reply. I just thought maybe he had lost it, but as the
day grew on and I still had not heard from him I began to worry. I
just had a bad feeling.
"I remember putting on the telly and watching the
news about how Steve Erwin had died the day before and I just kept thinking
about his poor children.
"I knew something had happened but never thought
Ryan had died.
"I finally contacted Ryan's dad. He was
crying. I must kept shouting to tell me what happened. Then he
told me we had lost Ryan. I felt so sick I just fell to the floor.
"Poor Harley had no idea what was going on but it
was not the right time to explain. I just said that the adults were a
little upset.
"It didn't hit me until we flew to Bangkok and I
got the full story. Ryan had gone to bed on the Saturday night and
didn't wake. He was found by someone who worked at the hotel where he
was staying.
"When we flew home Harley asked when was daddy
coming home. I kept it together and said that daddy was in heaven and
loved him very much. Harley just said he wanted to kiss and cuddle
daddy.
"It has taken time but Harley now understands
where his daddy is - but we miss him every day."
Nicola hopes to help the charity raise £80,000
towards CRY's research and support for bereaved families.
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