This year’s Red Sky Ride is dedicated to the memory of 17-year-old Carys Gilbert: daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and girlfriend. Carys enjoyed the benefits of SolarisCare, such as reflexology and reiki - and while she probably wouldn’t have chosen to ride the long journey our teams face, she would have enjoyed helping others feel happy by supporting the fundraising efforts of all...
Carys Gilbert
17.05.1990 - 7.10.2007
There was one less school-leaver enjoying the end of Year 12 in Dunsborough, and one less graduate from St Brigid’s College at the end of 2007.
After successfully completing eleven years of school Carys was diagnosed with an aggressive, but rare form of cancer. Determined to face her diagnosis head-on and not let it define who she was, Carys spent Year 12 doing most of the things every school-leaver looks forward to. Despite her rigorous treatment regime and the side effects her cancer brought, Carys attended her Year 12 ball, went on school excursions and school camps, and made sure she was around for her school photos with classmates. Carys achieved highly in her seventeen years. As well as being older sister to Dylan, Kayne and Rylee she was also a model school citizen, house captain, debater and good friend.
Behind the scenes Carys’ life had the added activities that cancer and its treatments bring, but she chose to concentrate on the life she had always lived: being happy, by bringing joy to other people’s lives and spending time with family and friends. Most importantly for Carys, she spent her last year enjoying the small moments like attending parties and movies when she could, helping her little brother Kayne with his homework, watching fireworks at the Royal Show with her family, being a friend to many and girlfriend to Joel.
So while ‘Dunsborough Leavers’ was missing one of its party goers at the end of 2007, there was a colourful memory of Carys there, represented by the hundreds of young people who wore her name on a yellow bracelet, celebrating her life, along with their end of school activities. The Red Sky Ride in 2008, aims to continue this colourful dedication … to a young woman who spent her life well-lived, and well-loved.
With thanks to Merryl and Russell Gilbert – and family - for sharing Carys’ memory with us for the ride in March.