‘LOST for words’ – that is how a bereaved man has reacted after Rugbeians came together to make sure his ‘hero’ dad gets a fitting send-off.
Chris Reeves, 52, died earlier this month due to a serious head injury sustained when he fell off his bicycle while avoiding two cats which ran out in front of him.
His son Dominic has launched a fund-raiser to give Rugby man Chris – known affectionately to his friends as ‘Lurch’ – the ‘send-off he deserves’.
And he says he is ‘truly in awe’ after receiving donations totalling £5,610 – beating the initial target of £5,000.
On his fund-raising page, he wrote: “I am truly lost for words at the amount of love and support, and the exposure dad’s story has received.”
Network Rail signaller Chris was on his way to work on the morning of Tuesday July 30 when the accident happened.
Paramedics attended and Chris was airlifted to University Hospital Coventry.
Dominic said: “From then, he put up the most valorous, determined and loving fight imaginable. He was doing incredibly well and would not take a step back for anything.
“However, on the afternoon of Sunday August 4, he didn’t respond to medication as hoped, and took a turn for the worse.
“We stuck by his side and after deliberation with doctors and nurses, accepted that it was time for dad to rest.”
“He was surrounded by love, respect, care and thanks. Eventually, with his two boys next him, hand on chest and holding his hand, he finally rested his eyes and entered his next chapter.
“He was never in any pain and now he’s looking down on all of us, always there to support us, give us guidance, probably some funny joke and a pat on the back.”
Dominic said Chris was a ‘loving, caring, funny, big personality, life-of-the-party man’.
“The amount of people that dad loves, and subsequently the amount of people who love him back, really is breathtaking. A man of community, family, friends and passion… they don’t really make them like Chris.”
He thanked Chris for being ‘the best dad I could ever have asked for’ – and hoped the money raised would bring people together at the funeral.
He added: “Hopefully we will continue to surpass the goal so we can really give dad the send off he deserves – one big party, a celebration of dad, Chris, Lurch.
“I would do anything to get him back, but he’s up there having fun, looking down on us all, so happy that so many people are coming together for him. Thank you everyone.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/f/christian-lurch-reeves to contribute to the fund-raiser.
