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Aaron J. Brookhart

Aaron J. Brookhart: 9/6/79 – 5/9/2008

Why I Ride,

It’s simple. I ride for Aaron Brookhart, but I guess when I really take the time to think about that question, I ride for much more.

As many of you know, and now many more friends will, about 6 years ago I lost my cousin, an Ignatius man, brother, and best friend Aaron J. Brookhart to suicide. Though the passing time doesn’t make missing him any easier, this year he and I share something very special: We will both be the same age he was when this terrible disease took his life. Sharing this with him, it’s overwhelming to me to think how much more life he had to live and how much more he could have accomplished.

And it’s at this moment, I ask myself why I ride:
Aaron J. Brookhart:
9/6/79 – 5/9/2008

  • I ride for Aaron
  • I ride for my aunt (Nancy, Aaron’s mom)
  • I ride for my mom (Sharon, Aaron’s aunt)
  • I ride for my grandpa (John, Aaron’s grandpa)
  • I ride for Family

Most of all,

  • I’m fueled to ride by the memories
  • I’m driven to ride to never forget

Aaron was such an amazing man/older brother to me; there is not a day that goes by I’m not reminded by him and his lasting impact on my life. Though he will never be gone, there are so many things that can be done to preserve his memory. Thus, I ride. The Life is Precious Foundation has provided me with this outlet to raise money for suicide prevention/research and has allowed me to preserve Aaron’s memory.

When I think of Aaron, of course I tear up, but I garner great strength from the thought that life truly is precious. Thus, NOW is the time to climb this hill, eat food I’ve never had, and live my life to the fullest carrying him wherever I go, telling everyone I meet about the most amazing person I’ve ever met – Aaron J. Brookhart