Marathon run in memory of grandad who died from AIDS
GRANDDAUGHTER LOOKING FOR RELATIVE’S LONDON LINKS
A WOMAN is to run a half marathon in memory of her grandfather who died of AIDS in 1990.
Sasha Vion, who lives in Fenham, Newcastle and works in hospitality and as a model, will take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London today – in the city where her grandad passed away more than 30 years ago.
Her grandad Maurice Vion married her grandma in 1940 and came out as gay later in life before moving to London in the 1960s.
Tragically, Maurice later died of AIDS, when Sasha was just a baby. In loving memory of him, she now wants to run the Royal Park’s Half Marathon in the city he loved for the National AIDS Trust.
She explains that she would love to assist the Trust in their campaign to to raise awareness around HIV and help remove stigma.
Sasha said: “I never met my grandfather but, in many ways, I’ve followed his path without knowing him.
“Out of his four grandkids, I am the only one who looks like him! I have ended up basically doing the same things.”
Raised in France, Sasha initially knew very little about her grandad’s life, with the circumstances about his death often unclear to her at a younger age.
“I was born and raised in Burgundy. I was told when I was very little that my grandad died of cancer and then a few years later, I was told he died of a heart attack, and then something else.
“But when I was 15, I found out from my elder brother that my grandfather was gay and died of AIDS.
“He married my grandma as back then being gay wasn’t really something people accepted.
“He had three children and he left when they were very young to start working in London.”
Sasha’s grandfather had a special relationship with England where he, like her, worked in hospitality. He was always mad about England and Europe and worked in hospitality as a maitre d.’
“He lived his best life in London and I found out that he had boyfriends after I enquired afterwards from my cousins.”
She feels a great deal of connection with her late grandfather due to the similarities of their life paths – being gay, living in England and working in hospitality.
“There was always a special relationship between him and England which transferred to his daughter who used to take me over there as a kid.
“After I grew up, I found I also had a liking for England, living in London from age 19 before heading back to France.
“I worked as a mixologist and opened businesses in France such as cocktail bars and restaurants but I felt drawn back to England – my ex was also here. I thought it was a good idea to move here after coming back on holiday.
“After everything opened up after Covid I found a house here and I’m working here now.”
Sasha’s foray into running is a relatively recent one having picked up the hobby on Tyneside, initially building up fitness from doing 5k runs to the point where she once ran all the way from Fenham to South Shields.
She explained: “I started running about six months ago. I’ve always been very sporty but definitely didn’t have the endurance to do any type of race at all. But after a bad break up, initially the only thing that could take my mind off it was running.
“As I was training, first I reached 5k, then 10k and then one day I just didn’t stop and ended up running to South Shields. That was 22k in all but was just for fun.
“After that I thought I should sign up for some real half marathons. My first was the Durham Half Marathon which was two months ago.
“[Then] somebody I knew dropped out of the Great North Run and I ended up taking her number. I did it in two
hours and four minutes which isn’t bad for someone who has just started running.”
On the lookout for a race to compete in as her final one of the year, the idea to run the Royal Park’s Half Marathon for the National AIDS Trust felt right, Sasha reveals.
“I really wanted to do it for the National Aids Trust.
“I am a lot like my grandfather and he lived and died in London, that’s where he was his true self so it feels right to do it there.
“He died in January 1990 at St Mary’s Hospital in London. He was diagnosed very late and died within a year of being diagnosed.
“It’s very difficult to know as I feel we would’ve got on so well.
“It affected me coming out in my life because of all the taboo around it when really there was nothing to be ashamed of.”
She feels that this will be a perfect way to honour her grandad’s life and to feel closer to him with the extra motivation of running for a cause close to her heart. “I also intend to do a day of research when I am in London. I’m going to stay for four or five days, and go to see the addresses where he was staying at.
“I know it will be hard to find more things about him as it was a long time ago but even if I just kinda feel the vibe of it, that would mean a lot.
“And, who knows, maybe I will meet someone who knew him. If anyone could get in touch who knew him, that would be quite nice.”
She added: “I feel closer to him doing this and so I will be thinking about him.
“The fact that he died of AIDS, I have extra motivation to be running this one. This is my last race of the year and I know he will be with me, for sure.
“The National AIDS Trust have been very supportive of me, they have sent me a race vest and a necklace. They’re very nice people.”
You can donate to the fundraiser by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/grandamauricevion online
I am a lot like my grandfather and he lived and died in London, that’s where he was his true self so it feels right to do it there