In 2017, the Bellingham family’s world changed forever. Aaiden Bellingham, a beloved son and brother, tragically passed away from a sudden cardiac episode at just 24 years of age.
Seemingly healthy, his unexpected death devastated his parents, Adrian and Meg, his sister Ashleigh, and the wider community, including friends and colleagues at the UC Stars Football Club, where he was a valued member.
“Aaiden loved his football. He lived and breathed the game, playing, coaching and inspiring those around him,” said Adrian Bellingham.
“Losing him was heartbreaking. No family should have to go through such pain.”
Determined to prevent similar tragedies, the family have become passionate advocates for medical research into sudden cardiac deaths. Adrian spearheads the Bellingham Cup, an annual football event that not only celebrates Aaiden’s legacy but also raises awareness of genetic heart disease and sudden cardiac death in young people.
More than just a competition, the event supports the Centenary Institute’s vital research into inherited heart disease and its researcher’s efforts to identify risk factors, improve early detection and ultimately save lives.
“The research at Centenary is critical,” says Adrian. “Understanding the causes of these tragedies is the first step in preventing them. Every young life saved is a family spared from unimaginable loss.”