Celebrate Nick’s Spirit for Life
Nicholas Lambden 1996-2007
This is the story of our son and brother, Nicholas Lambden. Nicholas was born on May 13, 1996 and immediately you could tell that he was out to discover the world. He was passionate about everything we value in life. Nick was the spontaneous energetic child who always wanted to try new things and was determined to learn them. He worked hard and accomplished a lot in his short ten years of life. His love of life, family, friends, school, sports and community was so prominent in all that he did. From an early age, Madison and Nick spent many hours at St. George’s Park, our neighbourhood park. It started at the playground, many hours with friends on the slide, swings and sand. In the winter, they learned to skate on the outdoor rink. As the years progressed it became games of tennis, kicking the soccer ball, tag with friends and playing catch with their dog. It was an integral part of their childhood. At the age of four, Nicholas started his life of hockey. I still remember the first time he was on the ice getting picked for his CHIPS program team. He could barely walk around the rink. Years of practice both on the outdoor rinks and indoor rinks he made his way into rep hockey playing as a left winger. He was speedy both on and off the ice. Nicholas not only learned the game of hockey, but he learned to respect his coaches, his teammates, and competitors, to be responsible, the importance of time management, how to listen, work hard, how to win and lose gracefully and be a member of a team for a common goal. He learned them well. His team was like his second family and he held all their friendships close to his heart.
He attended Laurine Avenue School in Guelph since Kindergarten and it was there he developed long term friendships with his small class. He excelled in school track and field and cross country, placing 3rd in his school division in his final race. He also enjoyed playing on the school volleyball and baseball teams. Soccer was another love of Nick’s. He started playing when he was 4 years old as well. He tried out for rep soccer at age 10 and had the opportunity to play one year of rep soccer. He won Most Improved Player that year and was very proud of his accomplishments. Nicholas took up mountain biking, sailing and flying planes with his dad and spent many hours enjoying these sports as well. He said someday he wanted to be a pilot. He really loved life in its entirety.
Nicholas was also a diligent student both academically and socially. He was a reading buddy, a lunchroom helper and was a member of the school patrol team Last year he won Most Valuable Patrol for the first term. He learned the importance of juggling homework, school duties and extracurricular activities. He took his responsibilities seriously but at the same time he enjoyed himself. He was always ready and willing to help wherever it was needed. Nick was a leader and he knew he had to be respectful, considerate, entertaining and thoughtful. He realized the gift in giving.
Being a ten year old boy he still loved to have fun. He always carried a big smile on his face. He was a loving, sensitive, and caring child who was always concerned about the well being of others. He loved all the people in his life, his friends, classmates, teammates and most of all his family. It showed in all he did for everyone around him. We all loved him dearly and he is missed so much by all those whose lives he touched.
On that fateful day, February 11, 2007 he went to the local outdoor rink, his neighbourhood playground, to just have some fun with a friend. He ran out of the house smiling. He was doing what he loved—playing hockey. He was hit by an errant puck in the head and later died. He was 10 years old. We donated Nicholas’s organs so other children could lead healthy and happy lives. His love of life will survive in those that received his organs. We started the Nicholas Lambden Children’s Foundation to honour our son and brother. I know that his wish would be to help other children so they can have a better life, whether it be a healthy breakfast, a reading program, sports equipment or making some other dream come true for a needy child. Nicholas will enjoy watching these children prosper. Please keep his passion alive by supporting his foundation. This is his legacy. A memorial at the park he and his sister so dearly loved will honour him and his community that supported him throughout his life and still does to this day. It will be a place for children, young and old, to play, enjoy family and friends and keep the spirit of Nick and his community alive forever.