On this day in 2019, a St Albans boy was celebrated as the latest winner of The Maltings Community Hero award after completing a ten-mile charity cycle ride.
Ollie Higman-Hall undertook the ride to raise funds for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), a charity which aims to prevent sudden death in young people, in honour of his dad.
Ollie’s father, Darren Hall, tragically passed away at the age of 30 when Ollie's mother, Kirsty, was just nine weeks pregnant.
He had been a seemingly fit and healthy man, but suffered from a rare heart disease known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Despite Kirsty's attempts to resuscitate him, Darren died en route to Welwyn Garden City's QEII Hospital.
At the time, Kirsty said: "The cycle ride was fantastic, Ollie completed over 11 miles and Theo did six miles.
Read more:
"We have raised over £2,182 so far. Everybody is so proud of him."
Kirsty, who is now remarried to Tim Higmam, took part in the ride with Ollie, with Tim and four-year-old half-brother, Theo, participating in half of the charity cycle.
Ollie, who was only eight years old at the time, was a member of Colney Heath cubs and expressed aspirations of becoming an engineer in the future.
Ollie was awarded £100 to spend in The Maltings for his commendable efforts.
[From the Herts Ad of July 8, 2019]
Share