Dannevirke: Friends follow same route to celebrate life of Reece

Astria Dukes (left) and daughter Bailey, her mother, Mandy Dukes, and walk organiser Michele Cockburn (fourth from left). Photo / Christine McKay

When Dannevirke's Reece Brown died on April 26, his friends and family say they lost a young man who was special in many ways.

The 24-year-old had battled cystic fibrosis, but his friends said his legacy would always live on. The day after his funeral service, they gathered to walk the same route Dannevirke South School pupils took more than 14 years ago when they raised funds for surgery for Reece.

"Reece and I had been friends since those primary school days and, when I heard he'd passed away, I wanted to walk that route again to remember such an awesome person," said Michele Cockburn, 21, the organiser of the walk.

"Reece was always so kind, he helped me through some pretty tough stuff in my life and he was always someone you could count on when you needed a friend. I reckon half of the people in Dannevirke felt the same way.

"Reece was wise beyond his years and always knew what to say and what to do in all sorts of situations others faced."

Organising the walk in short time, Michele had more than 170 people reply to her Facebook post.

"I had messages from people I didn't even know, but they wanted to be involved because Reece had touched so many lives," she said.

Before the walk last Friday, $85 had already been donated by those unable to attend.

"This is such a caring and supportive community," Michele said. "Reece would have been shocked by the response. But he'd be pretty stoked too and it was him who definitely brought the sun out for us on Friday."

Michele, who lives in Wellington, said it felt good to do something to remember Reece.

"I know it meant heaps to his family."

Mandy Dukes, of Featherston, said it was so important to take part in the walk.

"This is a beautiful tribute, organised by an amazing young woman," she said. "Reece was my daughter Astria's best friend and the godfather of her daughter, Bailey, 2."

For Mandy Dukes it had been a week to be strong, she had not only farewelled Reece, but had just buried her father as well.

"Two funerals in a week has been a real test of strength," she said.

Astria Dukes said Reece had been her best friend and her "buddy boy".

"I spent time with him every day and today is so worth it to remember a remarkable person with a wicked sense of humour," she said.

The Dukes and others on the walk dressed in Batman costumes, in tribute to Reece, who was their Batman.

Friday's walk went a lot more smoothly for Michele than the fun run/walk/cycle of the Cadman Rd block all those years ago.

"I remember that day vividly. I was maybe 7 and I broke the rules, crossed the road and was run over by a cyclist. I still have the scars," she said. "I'd crossed the road by the Taradale Rd bridge, mum called out to me to come back and I tripped and one of the big boys on their bike ran over me. I had to be carried the rest of the way."

Last Friday, there were some tears as the walkers crossed the finish line, but Michele was delighted with the money raised for Reece's family - just short of $450.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS
• Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening genetic disorder affecting New Zealand children.
• An inherited disorder, CF affects a number of organs in the body (especially the lungs and pancreas) by clogging them with thick, sticky mucus. In the lungs, this can cause shortness of breath, a chronic cough and repeated chest infections. If the blockages affect the pancreas, it reduces or stops enzymes from being released to digest food, causing problems with poor weight gain and malnutrition due to malabsorption.
• Currently, there is no cure for CF, but the gene responsible has been identified and researchers are working to find ways to repair or replace it as well as medications to treat CF complications.