Barry Thomason (32) died suddenly last September from an undiagnosed heart condition and last Saturday senior property consultant Lynn’s workmates, family and friends walked with her in his honour.
Organised by David Evans Real Estate colleague Joanne Connell-Davies, the 12km walk from Burns Beach to Hillarys is well on the way to raising $5000 for the National Heart Foundation.
‘The heavens had been pouring but when the rainbow came out, I knew it was my son looking down on us,’ Lynn said.
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READ NOW‘It was a lovely walk ” we stopped at Mullaloo for coffee and had booked a table at Hillarys for breakfast.’
Barry, who left a seven-year-old daughter, collapsed at Burswood Casino on September 7 after watching Fremantle play on the big screen.
Lynn said an autopsy showed her active, fun-loving, family-oriented son had arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD), which often strikes young athletes. Genetic testing revealed a faulty gene.
‘It came out of the blue because he was as fit as a fiddle,’ Lynn said. ‘Barry never sat still; he travelled (around) Australia twice and went overseas.
‘He loved life, was funny and had a heart of gold. I feel in a daze that he’s not here and keep thinking he’s on holiday.
‘The support I have received at work has been wonderful; it envelops you and shows how people care.’
Lynn now wears a defibrillator after subsequent testing of family members showed she too has a heart irregularity. Go to walkforheart.everydayhero/barrythomason