PENNED in a letter to a room full of supporters, Christian Ashby wrote how it felt like Ballarat had wrapped its arms around him and his young family.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
To look around the room, Christian’s wife Karen Ashby was blown away by the wide-cross section of Ballarat’s sporting community and well-wishers.
Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club raised more than $15,000 from the benefit dinner to support the Ashby family. Christian, a keen triathlete and well-known podiatrist, was hit by a car when training on his bike in the early hours of Good Friday morning.
Christian still has a long road of rehabilitation ahead and remains in a Melbourne rehabilitation facility.
His childhood hero, World Triathlon Hall of Famer Emma Carney, spoke at the benefit dinner.
Karen relayed Carney’s story to him over the phone, her unusual launch into the sport and ongoing issues with cardiac arrest that ended her career. He already knew every detail but was disappointed to miss hearing it all again.
“She’s the reason he got into triathlon. He lived in a similar part of Melbourne as Emma growing up and saw her training a lot,” Karen said. “Emma’s tackled a lot of adversity. Her message is really encouraging, that you can come out of adversity with positives.”
Carney had already been booked as the club’s June dinner guest speaker. The sportsmen’s club made a one-off decision to open the dinner to non-members and floor-space was opened up into the main bistro at Ballarat Golf Club.
The event was sold out in two days. High-value auction items kept coming in as donations on the night.
Karen said the outpouring of generosity, love and care from the whole community had been incredible. Since the incident, people have left flowers and meals on the Ashby’s doorstep. Their friends, school, work and clients had rallied. Strangers launched appeals.
This mass showing at the benefit dinner completely surprised the club, who had hoped to raise about $5000.
“It’s just mind-boggling and heart-warming,” club secretary Bruce Valpied said. “It’s amazing the difference the Ballarat sporting community can make.”
Carney had been following Christian Ashby’s story after learning of through social media. She publicly offered to spend time talking with Christian, when he was ready, for support.
