A thankful heart is the greatest virtue
When I started writing this column my intent was to write about life as I experienced it. I called it “On a Brighter Note” because no matter how dark life can sometimes get, there’s a brighter side to everything if we decide to seek it out.
But when you lose a loved one, what’s the brighter side to that? And when you lose a child, how on earth do you find something positive?
We all know that death is a part of life and few of us escape the anguish and grief of losing people that we love. Yet no one should ever have to endure the pain and heartache of losing a child.
This past summer, Scott and Cynthia Walker lost their youngest child Andrew when he was killed in a skateboarding accident just two days after his 21st birthday. Holding on to his friend’s car as it drove down the road, he lost his grip and slipped under the wheel of the car, losing his life in the blink of an eye.
In the depths of their heartbreaking sorrow, a friend told them about a program called Smartrisk. Learning that it had been developed to help young people make smarter risks and prevent accidents like the one that claimed their son’s life, they embraced the program and made it a part of his funeral service with donations going to it through the Andrew Walker Memorial Fund.
It’s been three months since then and his family’s commitment to this cause has been instrumental in bringing the program to high schools in Kelowna. A training session has been scheduled for November 12th and 13th for school staff representatives and two students from each of the participating high schools.
But the family wants to be clear that Smartrisk isn’t about Andrew.
“His name allows the tragedy to have a face, to be personalized and more tangible,” said Scott. “And it’s not just the thrill seekers we need to reach. It’s everyone. ”
To some, an accident like this might seem unfathomable because they can’t imagine doing such a thing themselves. But who among us hasn’t taken risks that could have resulted in serious injury or tragedy at some point in our lives?
With injuries killing more teenagers in Canada than all other causes of death combined, an average of two teens are killed daily.
“We don’t expect kids not to take risks,” said Scott. “In fact, we want them to get out there and challenge the world. But we want them to think a little deeper and truly evaluate the choices and risks that they take. We want them to grow up and live their lives fully.”
And that’s what Smartrisk is all about. Rather than telling kids what not to do, the peer-driven program encourages five positive choices: Buckle Up. Look First. Wear the Gear. Get Trained. Drive Sober.
How many of those choices have you decided not to make in the past? Shamefully, I can count five out of five myself. But I, like most of us, got off lucky every time. Andrew and his friend didn’t.
The Smartrisk program isn’t funded by the government and is only being introduced to our community through donations. We would be wise to embrace this program and support it in the future. Not only will it save lives, but it will save money as well.
Over three million Canadians are treated for injuries at an economic cost of nearly $20 billion every year. The majority of those injuries are preventable.
As the mother of two young children, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to the family of Andrew Walker in their work to help bring Smartrisk to our schools.
Nothing can be done to bring this young man back. But his family and friends who are able to honour his life with their admirable efforts to save others can hopefully find something positive in their loss.
His family has created the Andrew Walker Memorial Fund through the Central Okanagan Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting Smartrisk and other youth related activities in the Okanagan. To find out more about Smartrisk visit
To support this program in the Okanagan visit centralokanaganfoundation.org
This Thanksgiving, Andrew’s family will gather to celebrate his life and remember everything that made him wonderful. Like others who have lost someone they love so much, this family knows all too well that life should be cherished, and never taken for granted.
Life is precious and can be lost in the blink of an eye. Be thankful for every moment, and live it fully and with love.
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Thank you so much for writing this. My friend and her sister were killed in a tragic car crash many years ago when we were still in our teens and it had a profound affect on me and our whole community. I think seeing the flowers at the scene long after the accident was helpful in the sense that other people would be reminded to drive safely, but I don’t think the family was able to reach out and share their story the way the Walker’s have. I’m not sure if I would be able to do what the Walkers are doing either, but I hope that I could find the strength. They’re doing some real good in our world and my heart goes out to them. My heart goes out to anyone who loses their child. There could be nothing more painful.
Lisa
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Hi Lori. After reading “A thankful heart is the greatest virtue” I wanted to thank you for sharing the Walker’s story. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. Your article was written with deep compassion & respect, while also educating and calling your readers to take action (whether that action is getting involved with Smartrisk or living life with a thankful heart).
Your article was very well done. Thank-you.
Another good, albeit sad column. Hopefully lots of good will come from this program. This last summer I had to catch up to a car on Buchanan Road and stop some teens from doing the same thing, as I caught up to them they were just getting ready to turn onto #97 N and go up Drought Hill. Hopefully they listened to what I had to say and didn’t continue later.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Lori.
Bob
What a powerful subject. Thank you for the renewed reminder that life itself is a precious, precious gift.