2007 is a long time ago – 10 entire years. 10 years of laughing and crying and being silly together. Months of queueing up for lunch, of the chocolate floorboards with the puff of icing sugar on top, of chips with cheese and plain pasta because I was too fussy to eat anything else. I remember the little strawberry milkshake cartons you always had, and the blue dining tables. I remember lying on the field in the sunshine, using you as a pillow – or vice versa. The ‘yumming’ Nazgul and the little stick figure doodles that appeared on anything and everything.

We went through some difficult points, and came out on the other side as goofy and weird as ever. We stuck at it, even when it was tough, and I want to say thank you for that, because I know I wasn’t easy to deal with sometimes, although I never meant to be hard work.

You have been an amazing friend to me, throughout the years. Whether we talk all the time or a few days slip by, you’re always around to be supportive, to listen if there’s anything wrong, and to giggle over something with. I’m so happy you’re off on an adventure in Hobbitland, even though it feels galaxies away sometimes. I look forward to your return and a chance go climbing together again, but I’m thrilled you’re having fun!

Throughout the last few years, your loyalty has been amazing. I haven’t really made friends since moving, but you have come to visit in spite of your enormous workload and the long drive, and you don’t know what that means. I appreciate that you’ve travelled hours to see me, just so we can watch movies and giggle over nothing. I appreciate your constancy and dedication, I appreciate the effort you put into our friendship, and I appreciate all the time you’ve given to me, even when you had little to spare. My life would have been very different without you, and I am so glad that we met, so glad that I have had this chance to know and be friends with someone so special.

We share many interests and hobbies, which I suppose is what made us close initially. The creativity we share and enjoy is something which I hope we can carry throughout our lives, and something which made us bond in the first place. You helped shape me as a writer, gave me confidence and encouragement, and a true enthusiasm for it.

I also love who you are as a person, your ethics. I love how you treat people – not just me, but those around you. You are often too hard on yourself, but kind to everyone else. You made a fabulous, patient teacher, even if you felt like you were struggling at times, and I know the kids you taught really loved you.

You made a difference to a lot of lives there, and they will not forget it – great teachers travel with you forever, perhaps almost as much as great friends.. I love how you have time for everyone, how selflessness and kindness make up your character. These are just a few of the things which have made you an incredible person to know, and someone I am thoroughly proud of and love. You are amazing, and will always continue to be amazing. Seeing and thinking about you always makes me smile. I love you so much. 

 You make my life rich. You make my mornings bright and my evenings warm. I light up when I see your message on the computer. I sulk when the time difference means you have to say goodnight when I feel like the day is just starting. I sulk when the time difference means I have to say goodnight when we’re having fun.

I was very lucky that we met – sometimes I forget exactly how lucky, how chance pushed us together in a random chatroom on a random website when we were just kids, and how we talked a bit, but not a lot. We made friends, but only distant friends, and then we didn’t talk for a while, until suddenly we talked every day. Every day for years now. I’ve known you since 2007, and that makes close to 3650 days of talking.

Without you, I would not be where I am, I would not have walked the path I have. You helped me when I felt like I was drowning in difficulties at school – you would always be right there at the end of the day, to help me up and dust off the tears and say something cheerful.

We’ve wandered through so many ups and downs together. I can hardly remember a quarter of them, but they’ve all been anchored in a firm recognition of trust and support, no matter what it is that’s going wrong. We consider each other’s feelings, look after each other, and do our best to make the bad times bright and the bright times brighter still.

We have amazing fun – games, films, writing, talking. Even with an ocean between us, there’s always lots to do, and I enjoy your company so much. I do miss hugs when you’re so far away, but just being able to talk to you and spend time with you is enough to make me a very happy person. Whenever I find something new, exciting, or weird, the first thing I want to do is share it with you and see what you think. Our endless gaming adventures, our struggles with online voice chats and our ridiculously late nights make me so happy just thinking about them.

When you come to stay, projects, silliness, giggling, board games and excitement fill the days, and I so look forward to the next time we can do that. Inventing recipes, trying new things, laughing at your adorable face when I gave you shandi to taste. Our fun in the snow, the excitement of skating together, being frightened by the London Dungeon, and exploring Warwick castle – so many adventures which we shared over our few meetings. Not to mention the concert after the double-chocolate-chip-with-extra-chocolate-chips-extra-large-chocolate-frappucino – I’ve never laughed that hard before.

Writing a tribute to you that talks about everything you’ve done is impossible: there are uncountable hours to our friendship. You are a part of me, your enthusiasm and encouragement and affection always offering inspiration and comfort, in good times and hard ones. I hope you know how amazing and special you are; no writing, no tribute, can ever describe it.

The noise and fanfare of the memorable milestones which transpired the past months have started to die down, yet I feel you deserve a lot more for everything you have done for me, for our children and for the others whose lives you have inspired without you even realizing it.  I find it quite difficult to capsulize how good of a husband and a father you are, among many other roles you take on.  But beyond the enormity of where your great love brought us and our family to, I will try my best to give it a shot through a timely tribute to you my dearest, straight from the heart.

The end of May this year marked a very important event that you have worked hard and waited for since many years back — you were granted the citizenship of the country you now consider your second home.  Who would ever imagine you will be living in the Land Down Under, away from your native land, and initially away from us your loved ones?  It was never in our plans, but you undauntingly did, to keep us afloat and to give the children a better future.  I know how very fond you were of your then growing kids and how difficult it was for us not to be together physically every single day.  But you chose to leave your comfort zone with nothing for yourself, but everything for us.  Six years ago, you made your first attempt to work abroad.  But it was not successful and was filled with frustrations and disappointments—the economy was not good and the company you were working at had to close.  And after just a few months of being away, you had to go back home, penniless, in deep debt, sick, depressed, and without a job.

No amount of reassurance could bring you back to your old cheerful self that time.  You felt so hopeless.  You would not even want to go back and work where you would be far away from your family.  Your experience had been a nightmare for you.  You just wanted to be home with us, for us in any little possible way you can.  You were emotionally down and drained, but the responsible father in you prevailed.  School and household expenses are soaring high, and you could not bear see us suffer the consequences.  So, you gathered yourself back, and explored possibilities even if it meant being away from us again and taking difficult risks.   

Fast forward to five years of painstaking hard work, immense sacrifices, and selfless perseverance, amidst insurmountable challenges, you made it to obtain such a significant recognition to be a full-fledged citizen of Australia.  More than the title and the benefits of such, what made you truly happy is the prize of having us your family to be with you finally in the country which gave you a second chance to a promise of a better life.  And it is indeed a hard-earned one!

The 18^th of June marked our twenty-three years of being married, happily at that, despite the many ups and downs throughout.  I’m pretty sure that had it been a different man I got married to, and with all those difficulties that we had to go through, the marriage would have been broken by this time.  But because it was you, loving me unconditionally, doing everything to keep the family going, maintaining the love alive, staying in deep faith, and never giving up, we are still together, much stronger than ever with the hope of forever.  The challenges to married life are overwhelming these days with so much materialism and with temptations always lurking by.  But with your simplicity and humility, having little interest in passing fancies, with your practicality and frugality, we made it, even at our lowest and hardest, we survived, still happy together!  We have our many differences, but your big love always sees us through.  We may not have the riches and comforts of life, but with you for a husband, you always make me feel I am a princess.

The 17^th of July has been another most awaited moment of your life as you turned gold, half a century!  I had lots of plans for this big day, but the modesty in you struck again.  You would not want anything for yourself, just a simple dinner at home with our two grown-ups, nothing more.  Your kids surprised you with a small birthday cookie-card, a minion mug, and a household cleaning gadget for a gift, I cooked your favourite pasta, and your happiness was just beyond compare.  Truly lucky us! 

September 3^rd was again your day because it’s Australia Father’s Day.  Another important event for you that we should be thankful for, the best Dad my children could ever have!  There have been constant challenges as well in your being a father, with your many limitations and inadequacies.  But your dedication, commitment and love have always filled the gaps.  You never stop finding ways and learning to be the best in this role. 

Those are just special dates, but we will always be grateful for every moment of having you in our lives.  You may feel insecure and overpowered by the three of us at times, but please bear in mind that we love you much more than you know and that we are so proud of you!  

I am always looking for inspiration in different places and from different sources. I have a great group of friends and family that share an uncanny ability to inspire me. However I still value being motivated by those less fortunate than myself. I am especially inspired by those who are clearly working harder than I am to achieve their goals. It is easy to take life and the people that love you for granted. When I meet someone who reminds me of this fact, I am driven to tell their story with the hope that it can motivate others.

One day three years ago during a routine trip to the gym, where I was feeling less than set astir, I noticed a young man looking considerably more focused and working harder than myself. That man’s name is Terrence Tate.

Terrence does not like to make excuses and believes in self-discipline. He spends six days a week in the gym striving for total fitness. For Terrence, total fitness results in a healthier life which is something he knows he must value greatly.

From the waist up Terrence is a ripped machine much like his favorite athlete Lebron James, but from the waist down he lives with a particular set of complications. Terrence is a T4 paraplegic and does not have the ability to use his legs.

I noticed Terrence lifting himself back and forth from weight machines to his wheelchair and I was astonished by his work ethic and how he did not need the help of anyone. I had to find out more about Terrence because I had this feeling he had a great story to tell.

I did not want to bother him at first so I waited until I felt he was winding down his workout. I intended to say hello and ask him if he wouldn’t mind speaking to me when he had time, but by the time I was ready to leave he was already gone. I hoped the opportunity to speak to him was not lost so I asked the person working at the front desk to speak to the manager.

I asked the manager if I left my name and number would he please give it to Terrence the next time he saw him. I explained that I wanted to speak with Terrence and possibly write about his story. Thankfully they agreed to help me but I honestly was not expecting to hear back from Terrence.

To my surprise, the next day I received a text message from an unknown number saying, “Hello Patrick this is Terrence the guy in the wheelchair and I would love to speak with you.”

After a few text messages back and forth over the span of a few days we finally set a time and place to meet; and thus I finally got to hear a great story about an even greater person.

Terrence was a gifted basketball and baseball player in high school. He enjoyed hanging out with friends and discovering new music. He planned on attending a technical trade school after graduating with the intention of learning a multitude of skills he felt would help land him a solid job. He grew up seeing so many people in his neighborhood live life on the streets but he knew he wanted to choose a different path.

In 2006 Terrence went out on the town for a casual night with childhood friends. After a few hours of reminiscing about old times, the night was winding down for Terrence. While walking to his car he heard a loud confrontation happening behind him and noticed one of his friends was involved in a conflict with a stranger.

Terrence in his kind-spirited nature tried to prevent a fight between the two men and when stepping in front of his friend; the stranger pulled a gun and shot Terrence in the neck. He was immediately rushed to the hospital by his friends who were at the scene. None of them were sure if he would survive.

The bullet hit Terrence’s T4 vertebrae paralyzing him from the waist down. The man who shot him was arrested less than 24 hours later as many witnesses’ from the scene were able to identify him.

Terrence was only 21 years old when he was on the wrong end of a bullet. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and truthfully should have never been in that place anyway,” Terrence explained.

Terrence felt the accident had now cut short his life which he felt was ruled by hope and promise. “Mentally the accident was devastating to me and it took me months to break the mental barriers of being paralyzed,” explained Terrence. “For the first year I kept asking myself, why me?”

Terrence went on to describe how it was difficult to initially stay positive about being shot and that he uses the self-discipline that fitness requires to not get consumed by mental breakdowns due to his unfortunate injury.

“There was a period where I was depressed and was dependent upon everyone but myself and that’s when I started reflecting on life. I wanted my independence but the only way I could get that was by being healthy.”

Prior to his accident Terrence was never really a guy who enjoyed working-out. He says he developed a passion for lifting weights while they were a part of his rehab. “During my rehabilitation I looked around and saw so many people thinking life was over. I did not want to live that lifestyle. Part of my rehabilitation was to slowly develop a weight lifting routine. It seemed like I was the only one who really used the weights at the time.”

Terrence explained that it was the lack of motivation in others that helped him see the true beauty in life and is what inspired him to get healthy and stay healthy. He said once he got healthy not only physically but mentally, he wanted to try and help others who he thought might be dealing with the same struggles.

“It is difficult to maintain a healthy weight when you are in my situation. You have to watch what you eat and be as active as possible.” Terrence loves the feeling of being independent and being healthy. Being in the gym and seeing actual changes in his physique has helped him mentally overcome the everyday struggles of being in a wheelchair.

“When I am in the gym I don’t think about anything else other than progress. At first I did a few exercises at home but I started going to a regular gym so I could do things like everyone else.” Terrence doesn’t like anything modified to his situation other than the hand controls in his car which enable him to drive.

Terrence still keeps hope alive that one day he will walk again, but in the meantime he wants to be an inspiration to others that have the same hopes and especially to those who are having trouble embracing the harsh reality of being in a wheelchair.

“I want to reach out to people in my situation and help them get to a point where they feel they are living a regular life, not one in a wheelchair. So many of us become dependent on everyone to do everything for us, but that is not a way to live.”  

During a recent trip to the original location of Terrence’s rehab, he learned that they do need people like him to answer questions and help others acclimate to life in a chair. He is planning on going a couple days a week to help mentor those who are new to the chair.

I met with Terrence at the hospital where he started his rehab. I wanted to see where he began his road to recovery. I witnessed the strong connection he still has with the people who helped him recuperate from his injuries. Those are the people who were his inspiration and now he feels he can be the same kind of inspiration to others.

While at the hospital I learned that Terrence is known for his giant smile and his ability to warm the room. Everyone was excited to see him and could not wait to hear what he had been up to. Terrence didn’t know it, but he had already been an inspiration to so many people; even those not in a wheelchair.

“Life is beautiful and I do not say why me anymore, I say why not me?”

My mum has had such an impact on my life. She raised four kids, some of it single-handedly and this has moulded her into the person she is today. Sharing that journey with her, and being influenced by her during this time has also shaped me into the person I am. I have no doubt that the quality of life that I lead, the relationships that I have fostered and the perspective with which I view the world comes from her.

So this tribute I share with you mum, as a sign of my gratitude and recognition of the decades of love and effort you've poured into me and my siblings, and our children as well. This is a token of my thanks for all the sacrifices you’ve made and the challenges you’ve faced. I know there were times when it was so very difficult, but I know you believe it’s all been worthwhile as you’ve released a well-rounded brood into this world and I know we’ll all lead lives worthy of your expectations.

My mum was a driving force in instilling a strong set of values in me, my sister and our two brothers, constantly reinforcing how we should behave toward one another. She would explain how our interactions with each other and our social circles would have impacts that we needed to understand. How we needed to conduct ourselves in a manner that reflected the high standards we had set for ourselves. 

It’s impossible to recollect every time we were comforted for scraped knees, soothed back to sleep after nightmares or cheered on vociferously during our sporting endeavours. These things added up and became a guiding direction that I have continued my life upon. As a child I believe my actions and my choices were a product of the environment created for me and my siblings.

As a kid I remember always hearing from teachers and friend’s parents how the standard my siblings and I set was of a high standard. I credit this to your diligence in raising us with a strong set of values, of always showing respect and having a polite disposition. I’m proud to say that these traits haven't skipped a generation and your grandchildren have these qualities instilled in them as well.

I will always remember the effort and planning you put into my 21st Birthday celebration. Inviting family & friends from interstate, coordinating the catering & speeches, surprising me with a wonderful gift. These are all part of my cherished memories, formed only as a product of the effort and thoughtfulness you put into a defining moment in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will strive to provide a similar experience for my children when their time arrives.

We moved a lot when we were younger, sometimes changing places, schools and friends every few years. The constant for us was knowing that we would always stay together, despite the changing surroundings. My mother worked tirelessly to ensure that our homes were as comfortable for us as possible, had the things that we liked and we never really lacked for any of the creature comforts.

In some ways I was given more than my friends and peers. I was the first student to own a cell phone in my school, allowed some freedoms others my age weren’t and I was shown some of the darker things in life a little earlier than I would show my own children. Without these little graces I wouldn't have the grounded view of the world that I do today.

In other ways we had less than others, slightly disconnected and a little inaccessible, we were often told that we would be moving on to somewhere else at the end of the year. This put a strain on friendships, but served as a reminder to enjoy the moments of joy and adventure when they arose. I put this in here because these memories serve to remind me of the power of perspective, of learning to adapt to a changing environment.

A childhood filled with love, kindness and support has shown me the way with my own children. I constantly draw on the lessons I learned from my youth, pouring myself into their growth and thoroughly enjoying the moments we share. This is also a tribute to you mum, because without the opportunities my brothers, sister and I were offered to work together we would surely not have developed the strong sense of teamwork that we are often praised for.

Sometimes I lament that my children lack the perspective of not having everything they need, and more. I have come to realise that these lessons were also shared with me over the years from your childhood experiences, and I am comforted to know that in time they will come to understand and have that same perspective too. I remember the wild times playing outside in the luxury of some good-sized properties, of sharing these experiences with friends who didn't have dirt-bikes, a pool table or a games console.

It is an absolutely pleasure watching you play with your grandchildren. I know they thoroughly enjoy the activities you engage in together; whether it’s cooking, fishing or simply preparing for a family gathering they are captivated by everything you say, the way you conduct yourself and they continually await the next adventure. It is rare to find an adult who speaks to young children the way you do; encouraging but not coddling, patient but not without boundaries, a voice that doesn't possess a hint of malice or spite.

May you continue to prosper in your rich life and continue to offer guidance to those you love. I’m extremely proud of all that you’ve achieved and I know the future holds even brighter things for you. Continue to persevere, never stop searching for that love that we all know is out there and I look forward to our next visit and the adventure that surely awaits us with you.

Your loving Son.

Hey Samantha, 

You're great I love you. You're the best friend one could ever wish for. I hope that you understand how much you mean to me. 

 On March 7th of 2005, at the age of 86, the finest example of fatherhood this world may have ever seen, passed away. 

We live in a world that has stumbled and lost it's way when it comes to family values, and more specifically, fatherhood.  Believe me, during my rebellious, teenage years, I did not always think so highly of my father.  However, as a grown woman with children and grandchildren of my own now, I have come to realize how truly exceptional this man was.

My dad grew up in an a time when education was considered a luxury, not a necessity.  By today's standards, he would have had no more than about a grade 4 or 5 education.  Yet this man could read, write, weld (with exceptional skill), communicate at the same level as any college graduate, and was even the treasurer of his church for many years.  He walked over 40 miles as a young man, just to find employment, and continued from there to build a successful financial empire that supported at final count, a wife and nine children.

 His bottomless capacity for compassion and caring, coupled with an almost dangerous sense of humor, made this man a hit with everyone who had the good fortune to meet him.  The simple fact that after eight children,(the youngest already twelve years of age), and with the light at the end of the tunnel in sight, Abram and Maria Friesen chose to adopt a troubled, four year old little girl - gives testament to his character.  His career had already spanned a lifetime, and yet he never hesitated at the idea that he had prolonged his obligation to his children for several more years.  

Let me quickly explain, for those who may not understand.  Adopting a child, although a wonderful experience, can also be a difficult and trying adventure. Any time you bring change to a household, especially one with teenagers, there are going to be hills to climb. Add to that, a child that is already four and half years old, stubbornly set in her personality, and who has never had a family or known the safety of a non violent household - and you have a recipe for grey hair and heartache.  Believe me, I understand very well the sacrifice and patience that were required to handle this fragile, volatile little personality - because I was that little girl. I most certainly can testify to the grey hair and heartache, because I made my parent's lives a living hell for many years. 

My father was a very devoted Christian, who firmly believed in the concept of "Christ at the head of the home" and all that goes with a staunch religious standing.  Every morning by 7:15 am, we were up, dressed and planted at the kitchen table for morning devotions.  As a child, and most definitely as a teenager, I found this to be annoying and just down right inconvenient.  We were herded to church every Sunday (yes, even if you babysat til 3 am the night before).  We were raised in the good old fashioned cloak of manners, Godliness, Cleanliness and healthy fear of dad!

Now let me unfold for you, the outcome of the life my father lived.  All those many years of faithfulness to his God, his wife and to his children, have left my dad with an amazing family legacy.  Whether or not you personally, believe in God or religion or whatever - is really quite irrelevant to me. Whether or not you believe in the power of prayer etc. is inconsequential. However, my father did believe and here are some facts that are somewhat "interesting" at the very least.  After all those dedicated years of morning devotions, and praying (individually yet) for each member of his family, every night before crawling into bed, my father left behind a statistical anomaly.  

At the time of his passing, he had nine children, each of them with spouses,  twenty-four grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren - who are to this day ALL alive and well.  My father prayed that he would not have to bear the pain of burying a child before himself, and believe in God or not - he was granted his desire!  With the exception of the late addition, all of his children grew up to be mature, responsible members of society, free of criminal records, or downfalls in character.  All have continued on, the legacy of raising strong moral households.  Although, my troubled childhood made me a little bit slower on the moral track, I too have actually turned out quite okay.  

Tell me this story is not the definition of "A Successful Father."

Most people say they remember when they meet someone and their life complete changes, for no special reason I fondly remember the first time I saw you. Of course, you were making funny jokes and just being yourself around our friends. I saw you walk away and just had this feeling of wanting to get to know you better. Fast forward to the next 6 years and you have completely changed and marked my life in a very palpable way.

You helped me go from an introvert, self-center, scared person to someone that isn’t afraid to take risks and enjoys being herself now. You helped and showed me how to become someone I can be proud of, someone that has a sense of self and its life main goal is just to be happy.

We been together for what if feels like forever now. We made our way from kind strangers to best friends in a very short time. From all the late-night calls, to all the girls and boys we been through, you made your way and marked your place in my life. Still, I don’t forgive you all the times you just disappear because of some random girl, but I forgive you,I cherish all the good times we had, especially all the times you tried your best to make me feel better even if it was a very crappy day. You held my hand and heard me cry every time and you never complained once. You pushed me to be myself more and showed me it was ok to like myself even if some other people didn’t like me. That is the greatest mark you have left in my life, showing be its ok to love myself.

There is so much to tell about you, so much of your personality and talent that I admire. From your ways of being extremely calm in stressful situations, you’ve learned over the years how to calm my messy mind and show that everything eventually will get better if we just keep pushing forward. I’ve seen you struggle over the years with a lot of stressful situations and not once you showed me you lost faith. I admire how naturally you embrace change even if it makes you uncomfortable at sometimes, I may not like some ways you adapt to your environments, let’s be real you kind of get lost sometimes, but you really put your heart and effort to everything you do.

The passion you have for things is incredible, if you have your eyes set on a project you will do your absolute best and accept nothing but the best. You’ve proven me and many other people that if you have your heart set on something there is no one that can stop you, not even yourself. Even if the project you have is extremely tiring or exhausting, you will give yourself a small pep talk and then push yourself to the limit and deliver just excellence.

You are kind to everybody and are such a people person. I’ve seen you many times walk into a room full of new people and just make your way through the conversation and become everybody’s friend. The way you just light up any room you walk into makes me cherish you and love you a whole lot more. You helped me with a lot of love and patience to burst out of my bubble. I have to admit must of my change had a lot to do with your weird sense of humor and your not always funny jokes.

I don’t think we were aware when we crossed the thin line between best friend and something but I’m glad we did. You’ve proven over the past years that beside being the best friend any person in this world could ask for, you are the most caring partner as well. We been through ups and downs, and even some time apart but we always managed to come back to what we believe is home. No one knows exactly how to love properly, in fact there is no such thing as a perfect relationship but I’m happy I get to share this journey with you. There is no one else in this world that I would like to share this journey with. You’ve recently have taught me that love is ever changing and that there are many ways of showing someone you care for them. Love isn’t the flowers or the expensive gifts, it’s the attention to details, the caring and sharing of feelings and becoming a team. Over the years, we struggle a lot with just communicating and learning to appreciate the efforts of one another. We slowly have learned to appreciate one another and just being there for each other in times of need, even when we can’t physically be there. Showing someone that you care for them is not as easy as it sounds, and I appreciate all the patience you’ve had all this years. Maybe sometimes things don’t go as we plan or we act upon our feelings, but we always manage to get our way back home. You proved me that love is scary and there is a high chance you will get hurt, but the risk is worth it. A risk I would gladly take again and again if it’s with you. 

All I have left to say to you is thank you, thank you for being my friend all this years and proving me repeatedly that I can be someone good and that loving myself is not something bad. Thank you for being an adventurer with me and sharing my passion of exploring the world. Thank you for being the best cat dad our babies could ask for, still waiting for you to let me get cat number three. Most importantly thank you for loving me and taking care of me all this years. I have absolutely no clue where would I be today without you and your love. You made me a better person, you showed me love is no fairy tale and you must commit to a relationship and most importantly you showed me how to find myself. Thank you for all this years full of love and I’m extremely excited for what the next ones have to show us. 

Linda McEvilly is a truly exemplary woman. To come across a person with so much compassion and willingness to drive poverty and suffering out of her home town is an awe-inspiring experience. So often we will see people posting their staged acts of kindness on social media, awaiting praise and applaud from their followers, but Linda has mastered the art of selfless good deeds. She's been there, in countless peoples hour of need, when they've been let down by everyone else, or simply had no one else Linda has been there. With a warm drink, or even her warmer smile she's been there with her Christian outreach group to brighten the lives of others for no profit or reward, just the knowledge that she's impacted a life for the better.

For the past 25 years she's had no agenda but to see the end to the suffering that an overwhelming deprivation people are forced to live within across the Fylde coast. That's a quarter of a century being relentlessly dedicated to offering a reprieve to the people that society has forgotten. She's not one to watch the cycle of deprivation turn and idly stand by while our friends and neighbours are left out in the cold to die. So many people 'slip through the net' only to be spat upon by the society that put them there in the first place. Some have attempted to coin Linda as a philanthropist, yet she surpasses that title, her emotional investment surpasses that of any mere cash sum, it lifts people off the path of deprivation that has merely become a fact of life.

Linda is as much of a part of Blackpool as Blackpool tower or the promenade, she's a solid part of the crumbling community that many do their best to ignore. In Linda, the homeless, poor and destitute people of Fylde coast have their very own guardian angel. At 71 years old, Linda has no desire to retire from her gruelling, arduous work and is still looking to the future of her charitable organisation. She's a truly rare form of human being, the one that you're only graced with the presence of a handful of times in your life, she has a beautiful way of letting you know that no matter what odds are against you, what demons are chasing you, there's still hope and kindness in this world.

There's a radiance to Linda, her positivity is frankly wondrous, given that she has her own ailments to tend to. She doesn't give in to her Fibromyalgia which causes her severe muscle pain. It doesn't dent the overwhelming desire to help others, even if that means the arduous tasks she endures to ensure that people aren't left in the cold, hungry and alone.

Every day Linda sets out to collect food, clothes and other essentials from other generous residents around Blackpool to give to those who have nothing. There's no limit to her compassion. She cares for women in refuge centres after suffering from domestic violence, recovering addicts, and children who have faced abuse, she harnesses no prejudice, no judgement, just angelic virtue to care. Her generosity has seemingly become prolific around Blackpool, with more and more people getting involved with her mission she still operates as a one woman charity service and has no plans to slow down in the near future.

Linda has empowered herself from her own past experiences of domestic violence, she came out on the other side of her torment that left her life unequivocally upside down during the 1970's when she had to flee her home and was left with no one to help her. This was the ultimate inspiration for Linda to do anything in her power to help people in a similar situation. Many women, strong women have been destroyed by the cards that they've dealt with, but thank god for Linda who was able to see the light and share it with others in their darkest times. She's dispelled the myth that just because someone has found housing in a hostel, their basic needs are barely catered for.

Her work started modestly in 1991, handing out food parcels in her local neighbourhood from produce that was originally solely funded by herself until she inspired others to help her and donate to the worthy cause. After her lengthy commitment to the cause, it has only gained momentum, she now receives hundreds of donations each week, even more admirably, she stays in touch with the people she's helped in the past as they eagerly contribute to the cause. Now she's celebrating the 25^th anniversary of her “Swap Shop” in Blackpool where people are given the opportunity to take food, clothing and other essential items, and other members of the public are free to donate to the cause.

  In a time where it doesn't take much to slip through the net, the work that Linda undertakes is vital for the community. As food banks are struggling to supply the heavy demand they're under and an increased number of people experience financial instability and wonder if they will be able to afford to eat today. Even in the early hours, she won't ignore a plea for help. She also goes above and beyond in her servitude, she donates hundreds of Christmas and even Easter hampers to ensure that residents and their children not only survive, but have a little love in their lives.

  Linda has given a true, new meaning to the word charity. The entire community of Blackpool has become her extended family, even if they don't know it yet. She's a greater woman than I could ever aspire to be. Her smile and warmth is unrelenting, she's the epitome of charismatic love, a true angel without wings. Hearing that she feared of the future, when she was unable to carry on was truly heartbreaking for me, she's given her life time but to her that's not enough. I just hope it's enough for her to learn the legacy of compassion will continue in the hearts she's touched for generations to come.