A TRAGEDY for one local family has resulted in a significant donation to Bathurst Hospital.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Just over a year ago 18-year-old Jake Carroll died in his sleep from a sudden cardiac arrest after competing in a motocross competition with Panorama Motorcycle Club.
And recently, the club held a memorial ride to honour Jake’s memory.
Club president Bruce Morgan said they wanted to hold an event to remember Jake.
“On the anniversary of his death the club ran a motocross meeting in Jake’s memory and the proceeds of the meeting, together with other fundraising by his family, has provided the money that is being donated to the hospital,” he said.
Jake’s mother Susan Hurt was there for the donation on Thursday and said she was pleased the funds would go to help other people with cardiac problems.
She said it was discovered after Jake’s death that he suffered from the NKX 2.5 gene mutation.
“It can lead to a fast or slow heart rhythm,” Ms Hurt said.
She said Jake was born with a hole in his heart and research has linked that with arrhythmia problems later in life.
One of Jake’s mates who rode with him, this was his idea to have the memorial ride.
- Susan Hurt
It is the same condition his younger brother Joshua has and that their father David also died from.
Just a month after Jake died, Joshua had surgery to have a pacemaker defibrillator put in.
“One of Jake’s mates who rode with him, this was his idea to have the memorial ride,” she said.
Ms Hurt said the club raised $5000 from the ride which will to go towards the purchase of an ECG machine for Bathurst Hospital.
“I sold $2800 worth of raffle tickets in just a few days [leading up to the ride],” Ms Hurt said.
A further donation of $1000 was contributed by the Baulkham Hills Junior Motorcycle Training Club which sometimes uses the Panorama Motorcycle Club track at Mount Panorama.
Bathurst Hospital Intensive Care Unit nursing unit manager Anne Morrison said a new ECG is worth $11,000 and it will be a huge benefit to staff and patients after it is donated.
Sunday’s Geoff Martin Memorial Rally for vintage and veteran riders, organised by the Panorama Motorcycle Club, also raised funds to go towards the ECG unit the hospital.