A CHIPPING Sodbury man is running 5km every day this month, in memory of a young friend who was killed in a crash on the Avon Ring Road.
Adam Young is taking on the challenge to raise money for a charitable foundation set up by the parents of Tyler Carley.
Tyler, who was 20, died in December when the lorry he was a passenger in overturned on the A4174 near Mangotsfield.
The former Castle School pupil, who was living in Thornbury and working as a scaffolder at the time of his death, was a huge Bristol Rovers fan, and often travelled to away games with Adam and his friends.
Family helps others after own experience
Tyler’s dad Mark said he, Tyler’s mum Gemma and siblings Kylan, Skye and Ronni-Irene, had founded The Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation to support road accident victims’ families, in the light of their own experience.
He said that in the immediate aftermath of Tyler’s death: “We literally had no support.
“The police give you a green book and send you on your way. You come home and get an email about six hours later from your police liaison officer, and that’s it.
“There was nothing at all for Tyler’s sisters, brother, aunts and uncles.”
The family eventually found two charities which offered help.
The first, SCARD (Support & Care After Road Death & Injury), provides a phone helpline, free counselling, legal and practical support for families affected by road deaths and serious injuries.
The second, 2Wish, supports the families of children and young people who have passed away, offering counselling, home visits and ‘memory boxes’.
After supporting SCARD with donations from mourners at Tyler’s funeral, the family started considering a more permanent way of honouring his memory.
Friends tackle Great Bristol Run
Mark said they decided to set up The Road Forward after people who knew Tyler contacted them, offering to run the 10k at the Great Bristol Run in his memory.
Already more than 20 people have volunteered to run, with an initial target set of raising £5,000 through sponsorship and online donations.
Mark said every penny raised would go towards charities supporting other families in a similar position, and to raise awareness of their work, starting with SCARD and 2Wish.
Eventually he hopes that the foundation will be able to offer help direct to local bereaved families struggling with funeral and burial costs, or living expenses after having to take time off work.
Mark also hopes to organise sessions to teach CPR at Kingswood Boxing Club, where he is a volunteer coach, after learning that passers-by tried to revive Tyler at the scene of the crash that claimed his life.
Mark said: “It’s surprising the number of people who don’t know any first aid.”
Remembering a ‘polite, happy and friendly lad’
Adam, who works at Bristol Airport, is unable to take part in the Great Bristol Run on May 19, so instead he has decided to do a 5k run every day during May in honour of his friend, and is inviting people to sponsor him.
Adam said: “I knew Tyler through supporting Bristol Rovers.
“He was a polite, happy and friendly lad, who enjoyed his away trips with us, going to grounds that we hadn’t been to before.
“I saw everyone was going to do the Bristol 10k, but I can’t do it due to work commitments. I still wanted to raise money for the foundation, so I came up with 5k a day for May.
“The routes will vary and I will try to mix them up – even when I’m away in the Canaries, I’ll still be running over there every day.”
Adam has already received pledges of more than £450 online – his JustGiving page can be found here.
More details on the foundation can be found at its Facebook and Twitter accounts, or by emailing info@tylercarley.org. A website is also being set up at tylercarley.org.
*A 37-year-old man was arrested in connection with Tyler’s death and later released under investigation. Police say their enquiries into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing and there have been no charges as yet.