Steve Brine met with Hyde resident Eddie Baker in the House of Commons on Monday 1st July to hear a story which quite literally stopped him in his tracks.
Eddie's wife, Hannah, tragically passed away in an accident on 3rd March this year, and in her memory, Eddie and their group of friends are taking on a special challenge to raises funds for an organisation close to Hannah's heart.
Eddie takes up the story: "On March 3rd this year my world was ripped to pieces, my wife and best friend passed away at the age of 33. There was no illness, no forewarning, just a freak accident which one often reads about but assumes that such tragedy only befalls others and never oneself.
"To try and start coming to terms with what has happened and in order to give the future some kind of meaning 15 friends (10 of whom live in Winchester) have given up a considerable amount of time to undertake the 3 Peaks Challenge with me on July 6th. We are raising funds for a charity which builds schools in the area of Tanzania which Hannah and I visited on our honeymoon."
Karatu Education Fund is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life in the community of Karatu, Tanzania. Proceeds of the fund are used strategically to build and restore education facilities, and to improve the quality of learning in Tanzanian Schools.
Eddie continues: "Whilst I hope to raise enough money to fund a science lab this year, 2014 will take the challenge up a gear. I will be arranging a climb of Kilimanjaro in support of the same charity and will spend a couple of weeks after the challenge in the Karatu area to help in any way I can."
"Whatever life holds now, I will try and shape it to include the memory of the most inspirational, loving and unique woman I have and will ever meet."
Following the meeting, Steve said: "Every now and then as an MP someone gets in touch who just stops you in your tracks. Eddie Baker is one of those people.
"It was an honour to meet him and hear of his adventures to come. I cannot wait to hear more and of course, to help where I can to raise awareness of his efforts."
Pictured; Eddie Baker and Steve Brine outside the Commons
More information...
Find out more about the challenge here