Ian Cross distinctly remembers the moment his world was ripped apart by the heart-wrenching news that his six-week-old grandson had unexpectedly died.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Cross had only had two treasured weeks with little Lachie and was just two days away from returning home to Canberra after a month working overseas when tragedy struck.
"I felt useless because I was nearly 10,000 kilometres away in the middle of the ocean, I couldn't get home and this was going on and my family needed me and I wasn't there," he said. "Work was great and they got me on the first flight the next day."
In an emotional interview, Mr Cross, 47, opened up about his grief, revealing how it took him almost two years to come to terms with his first grandson's death from sudden infant death syndrome.
Mr Cross, who has four daughters, said it had also been especially hard seeing his daughter Ashleigh and her husband Matthew Danson lose a child.
"SIDS is so hard because you don't know. I only know how terrible and painful it was for me so I can't imagine what my daughter and her husband went through – for a parent to lose a child, it's just wrong but they were so incredibly strong," Mr Cross said.
Mr Cross said his daughter and her husband had since had another child, but Lachie would always have a special place in the family's heart.
In memory of his grandson, Mr Cross has set out to raise $5000 for SIDS and Kids by cycling more than 600 kilometres from Canberra to Bega where his daughter now lives.
Mr Cross will begin his ride on June 21 and finish on Red Nose Day on June 27 – the third anniversary of Lachie's death.
He has raised nearly $3500 so far, with the funds to go towards research, counselling and education programs.
"I've got pictures of Lachie on my bike so he'll be with me," he said.
"I thought if I could raise some money to help SIDS and Kids with their fundraising and the support they give to other parents and if in some small way, I can help someone else, then it's well worthwhile."
Mr Cross also wants to increase awarness about SIDS, saying it was still a topic people found difficult to discuss.
"It's still really prevalent but it's such a sensitive topic that no one wants to talk about it because children are so special," he said.
"My advice (to other people) is to talk to someone."
To donate to Mr Cross, visit: https://sidsandkidsaustralia.everydayhero.com/au/ian-s-page-for-lachie/.
