“Thank you for walking in our shoes
During May this year Gino, Joey and I suffered the worst news any family could be delivered when we suddenly and tragically lost our loved son and brother Lui.
Lui was a new member of the Gundagai Tigers under 16s playing in the Sullivan Cup.
From the start of the season Lui was dedicated and determined, he loved his coach, his team mates and the Gundagai Tigers Football Club.
He constantly talked about training and upcoming games. His easy going and friendly nature meant Lui fitted in well with the Tigers.
His team and his coach could see he cared and was willing to have a go.
Lui was so accepted at this great club and it is a huge tribute to him and his beautiful character.
This has not only been an immense loss for us, we feel the sincere pain from the members at the club and wider community.
For us to see 1800 people at Lui’s funeral was overwhelming and sad as well as humbling and honoured.
With enough donated food for 4000 people, erected tents for many, all hands on deck and the love of a universe.
We acknowledge and appreciate it so much.
“Everyone is afraid of dying, until you lose your child, then you’re afraid of how to live.”
I read this somewhere this week and it really sums up how Gino and I feel.
We will never get over losing our beautiful Lui, although we slowly learn to live again in a different normal.
We are grateful for the Tigers committee being with us every step of the way and organising a fund to help us out.
We are now able to have some gentle time away from our business and gather some thoughts on the future of Gino’s Fruit and Veg as we know it’s such a special part of the community.
People from all over the area have been doing their own fundraising and contributing.
We are totally overwhelmed with the love and support.
We have been told the money has come from Tigers’ players, other football clubs, community members holding their own raffles, the NRL and CRL, children with $1 or more, adults with whatever they can give and one community member who made a considerable donation.
This brings tears to our eyes as we never thought this would ever happen to us.
It is also a great tribute to our very beautiful and talented young man Lui; who everyone loved.
We are also grateful for The Harden Hawks and Boorowa Bushrangers love and support.
They fundraised for Ronald McDonald House where we found some comfort at our worst time.
Along with donations from the funeral, nine of Lui’s friends were honoured to travel back to Canberra with me last Thursday to present them with $10,000.
There is now a plaque in Lui’s memory on the corporate donation tree at the front door of Ronald McDonald House.
We will be forever proud of Lui and forever grateful to the extraordinary community we live in. THANK YOU”
