It was the phone call every parent dreads.

Nicole Webber remembers it like it was yesterday.

B次元官网网址淚 was teaching a Zumba class,B次元官网网址� said the personable Nanaimo mom. B次元官网网址淢y husband called me. He said there was an accident.B次元官网网址�

On March 10 of this year, a workplace accident at a fish farm on northern Vancouver Island claimed the life of Aidan Webber. He was just 18 years old and one of the nationB次元官网网址檚 top young BMX riders.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 even think it was possible with such a young, healthy person,B次元官网网址� said Nicole. B次元官网网址淚t was incredibly traumatic. There are still times when we have to remind ourselves heB次元官网网址檚 gone. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard every day. IB次元官网网址檝e definitely had a few moments when IB次元官网网址檝e felt him here, like heB次元官网网址檚 sending us messages. I look forward to being with him again.B次元官网网址�

Aidan won the junior menB次元官网网址檚 title at Cycling CanadaB次元官网网址檚 BMX national championships in Drummondville, Que., last July. In 2017, he was awarded the Steve Smith Memorial Award for achievement in extreme sports after winning the national championship in 2016. He raced around the world, representing Canada at world championships in Colombia, placing fifth on the U.S. national series and training in France.

Join USA BMX & BMX Canada as we honor the memory of Aiden Webber with the 1st Annual Aidan Webber Memorial Race and Pro-Am on Saturday, Sept. 28th at Nanaimo BMX in Nanaimo, BC Canada on Vancouver Island. Sign up for the $10 Opens, as proceeds going to AidanB次元官网网址檚 Legacy Foundation.

B次元官网网址� USA BMX (@usabmx)

This week, the BMX community comes together to honour Aidan, whose on-track moniker was B次元官网网址楢nimalB次元官网网址�, with the on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Nanaimo BMX track. There is a $5,000 minimum pro purse, with a salmon barbecue and proceeds going to AidanB次元官网网址檚 Legacy Foundation. Registration is from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with racing immediately after.

Friday (Sept. 27) a sold-out beer and burger fundraiser will take place at the Old City Station Pub and a regular Nanaimo race day takes place Sunday, Sept. 29 with a pancake breakfast and proceeds again going to the foundation.

Poignantly, Saturday would have been AidanB次元官网网址檚 19th birthday, so the celebration will have extra meaning.

B次元官网网址淎idan started BMX when he was four in Cumberland,B次元官网网址� said Nicole. B次元官网网址淭he officials put him on the half-track because he was so little. But he was so good, the rest of that day he was on the full track. From that day forward, he was absolutely obsessed with BMX training. He took his own training wheels off at two-and-a-half. He was all things two wheels. It was our life as a family.B次元官网网址�

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The Webbers moved to Nanaimo in 2014, having already been driving down twice a week to provide Aidan with more racers of his own age to compete against.

The BMX community as a whole in Nanaimo and elsewhere truly is a family. Nicole readily agreed.

B次元官网网址淥h my gosh, everyone has been incredible,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪ocial media has such a negative portrayal these days, but itB次元官网网址檚 such a valuable resource in times like this because people can reach out so easily. , everyone has been incredible. The BMX community at large is fantastic. IB次元官网网址檓 really looking forward to this as a positive event.B次元官网网址�

She said B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檝e had a funeral, weB次元官网网址檝e had a celebration of life and this event is to honour AidanB次元官网网址檚 legacyB次元官网网址�.

B次元官网网址淗e was physically such a beautiful child and man, incredibly strong and confident,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淩acing at that level comes with a certain amount of cockiness but he always had a sense of humour. Everyone wanted to be around this kid, me included. So charismatic and kind. He took on so many kids and mentored and coached them.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hardB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� she continued, trailing off. B次元官网网址淨uinn (AidanB次元官网网址檚 16-year-old brother) and I are determined to live very good lives to honour him. He lived every day, whether it was 4x4ing, snowboarding or skateboarding.

B次元官网网址淚 discovered he was so many peopleB次元官网网址檚 go-to person, someone they could rely on. He was that for me, too. For such a young person he was such a big man.B次元官网网址�

Nicole said she is especially proud of how Quinn, who will lead SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 flag lap, is dealing with the loss of his best friend.

B次元官网网址淗e is an amazing kid,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not easy. HeB次元官网网址檚 started the CTC auto mechanic program at VIU full-time. He is honouring his brother by having a good life and being driven.B次元官网网址�

Nicole hopes this weekendB次元官网网址檚 events are just the beginning in terms of building on AidanB次元官网网址檚 legacy and promoting the sport of BMX and the important lessons it offers.

B次元官网网址淭he time and money I spent devoted to his BMX career, not one penny was wasted,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t taught him such amazing life lessons. Work hard, have goals, be kind and compassionate, be coached, coach, race fiercely, live fiercely. There was no better way to raise these boys of mine into really good men. We owe it to our children to provide these opportunities. If we can somehow help some other family to help their children live their dream through sport, every dollar will be so worthwhile.B次元官网网址�

She said she was thankful for the support in helping her family heal.

B次元官网网址淭his is our familyB次元官网网址檚 project to carry out AidanB次元官网网址檚 dreams for other kids and to keep his memory alive,B次元官网网址� said Nicole, noting her daughter, Cassie, in Ottawa is expecting a boy, whose middle name will be Aidan. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e never going to forget him. There is strength in feelings. And what everyone is doing here is amazing.B次元官网网址�

Nicole says sheB次元官网网址檒l be front and centre this weekend.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be there, selling tickets to the salmon barbecue and raffle,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檒l be talking about the foundation.B次元官网网址�

Exactly how Aidan would have wanted.

is the managing editor for the . He can be reached at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or 250-905-0019.

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