Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Mum’s trek in memory of son’s birthday

ISAAC NASH WOULD HAVE BEEN 18

- By ROBERT SUTCLIFFE robert.sutcliffe@trinitymir­ror.com @MrRSutclif­fe

A LOVING mum has walked 150 miles from Highburton to Anglesey in memory of her sports-mad son who died in a freak swimming accident there in August 2014.

Her moving tribute to her son Isaac Nash is made all the more poignant by the fact that today should have been his 18th birthday.

Isaac, 12, was swept out to sea on an idyllic family holiday when a vicious rip tide caught him and his younger brother Xander, 10, unawares.

Their dad, Adam Nash, and grandad, Paul Nash, dived into the sea to try and help the brothers, but only Xander could be saved.

Since then a scooter park in Highburton has been created in Isaac’s memory but, with his 18th birthday approachin­g, his mum,

Zoe, a teacher at King James’ School, Almondbury, decided she wanted to mark that by raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust.

This charity is close to Zoe’s heart because Andy, Kate, Jack and Sarah Donoghue were there for her and her husband Adam when they came up with the idea of a bike ride from Huddersfie­ld to Anglesey several years ago.

Zoe said: “It’s now our turn to help a charity that has massively supported them as a family.”

So, on Friday, February 21, Zoe, who is partially sighted, and Isaac’s best friend Jack Byrne set off on a long trek to Aberffraw, a village on the south west coast of Anglesey.

As she prepared to walk the last few miles Zoe, a mother-of-three, told the “We have suffered blisters galore and Jack has had a problem with his right ankle but we have soldiered on.

“We have had an amazing time and it’s been lovely sharing time with Jack. I can’t sum up how I feel really but I’m doing something that Isaac would be proud of me for.

“And no matter how slowly I go, I still get there. Jack has been brilliant and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The pain of losing Isaac never goes away.

“All his friends are turning 18 around now, Jack will be 18 in May, and they are all planning their lives and going off to university. Adam and I think about Isaac every single day.’’

The JustGiving page in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust aims to raise £2,000. Anyone who wishes to donate can go to www.justgiving. com/fundraisin­g/zoe-nashjack byrne

 ??  ?? Isaac Nash’s mum Zoe and his best friend Jack Byrne, on their walk to Anglesey in his memory
Isaac Nash’s mum Zoe and his best friend Jack Byrne, on their walk to Anglesey in his memory

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