Latest news with #NicoleFitzsimonsFoundation
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
Beloved mum and ‘heartbeat' of travel safety foundation that supports Aussies dies in US traffic incident
An Australian woman killed when she was struck by a car in the US is being remembered as a 'beautiful mum', a 'rock' of her family and the 'heartbeat' of a travel safety and youth support foundation launched in honour of her late daughter. Julie Fitzsimons, 65, was critically injured outside a restaurant in Sheridan, Wyoming on Wednesday, local time. Her daughter Kate Gladdin shared a heartfelt tribute via the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation, a charity launched by the family after Nicole was killed in a motorbike accident in Thailand in 2012, on Friday. 'With broken hearts we share the devastating news that we lost our beautiful Mum and the heartbeat of Nicole's foundation, Julie Fitzsimons, in an accident,' Gladdin said. 'She was the rock of our family, a joy to be around and adored by all who knew her.'We are absolutely shattered and ask for space as we navigate the difficult process of bringing her back home. 'Once we are ready, we will share more details on her celebration of life.'For now, we find some solace in knowing she's reunited with her beloved daughter, Nicole. 'The Fitzy family will never be the same, but we will rebuild once again in their honour — just like they would want us to.' In a separate post on Friday, Gladdin shared the last photo she had taken with 'the greatest Mum I could've ever asked for'. 'Oh Mum, if only I knew a few days ago as I stood under this rainbow with you that this would be our final photo together, I would've never let you go,' she said. 'I can't hold you anymore but I'm never letting go of your incredible kindness, courage, resilience and endless love of the Dragons. 'I am so broken, but through the depth of my love for you and Nicole, I will do my best to rebuild and live as fully as I can in honour of you both. 'Please hug my sister for me so so tight.' 'Strength, joy and unwavering belief' The Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation was launched after the death of Julie's daughter Nicole in a motorbike accident while on holiday in Thailand in 2012. Nicole was just 24. The foundation provides travel safety education and helps young performing artists and sportspeople with financial assistance. Fitzsimons' sudden death was met with an outpouring of grief when news broke on the foundation's social media pages, with hundreds of people leaving tributes for a 'source of strength, joy and unwavering belief in the people around her'. 'She championed dreams not just with words, but with action, generosity, and a spirit that lifted others higher,' read one tribute. 'To be known and supported by her was to be championed and loved wholeheartedly. 'She will be so sorely missed and her absence leaves a silence that echoes deeply. 'But her impact — the lives she touched, the dreams she nurtured, the light she gave so freely despite her own heartache — will continue to live on in all of us and especially her beautiful family. 'We will carry her with us, always.' The St George Sailing Club, where she was an archivist, described Fitzsimons as a 'passionate club member who treasured our history'. 'Julie's passion for sailing extends through her family and her enthusiasm, donating her time and expertise will be missed,' the club said. US media reports a male driver is assisting police and the investigation is ongoing.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Another agonising blow for family of Channel Nine sports reporter who was killed in a Thailand motorcycle crash
The family of former Channel Nine sports reporter Nicole Fitzsimons, who was killed in a crash more than a decade ago, has been left devastated again after her mother died in a traffic accident. Julie Fitzsimons, 65, was hit by a vehicle on Wednesday across from Wyoming Rib & Chop House in Sheridan, Wyoming. She was taken to Sheridan Memorial Hospital where she died from her injuries, The Sheridan Press reported. The driver who struck the Australian mother spoke to local police and an investigation is ongoing. It comes more than a decade after Nicole Fitzsimons, Julie's daughter, died in Thailand. The 24-year-old was riding a motorbike in October 2012 when a speeding rider on the wrong side of the road collided with her. The Fitzsimons family launched the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation following her death to help raise awareness of travel safety and supporting passionate athletes. Following the tragic news about Julie, the family released a statement through the foundation's social media page. 'With broken hearts we share the devastating news that we lost our beautiful mum and the heartbeat of Nicole's Foundation,' it said on Instagram. 'She was the rock of our family, a joy to be around and adored by all who knew her. 'We are absolutely shattered and ask for space as we navigate the difficult process of bringing her back home.' The family said details of the celebration of her life would be released later. 'For now, we find some solace in knowing she's reunited with her beloved daughter, Nicole,' the statement said. 'The Fitzy family will never be the same, but we will rebuild once again in their honour - just like they would want us to.' In the wake of Nicole's death 12 years ago, her sister Kate quit a corporate job to dedicate her time to the foundation's work of raising awareness to how many Australians have died while travelling. 'I began researching how many other poor families had suffered what we've been through,' she said in 2016. 'And I soon realised far too many Aussies are compromising their safety in foreign countries.' Ms Gladdin (born Fitzsimons), who is an author, life coach and speaker and lives in Sheridan, took to Instagram to share a personal tribute to her mother. 'I am so broken, but through the depth of my love for you and Nicole, I will do my best to rebuild and live as fully as I can in honour of you both,' she said on Thursday. 'You truly were a rainbow to everyone who knew you, always brightening their day in anyway you could. 'I will forever love and miss you Mum. Please hug my sister for me so, so tight. My broken heart beats for you both now.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Mum of Thai crash victim killed in US
An Australian woman killed in a horror traffic accident in the US has been remembered as the 'rock' of her family who was 'adored by all who knew her'. Julie Fitzsimons, 65, was killed when she was struck by a vehicle across from Wyoming Rib & Chop House in Sheridan, Wyoming, according to local media. The Sheridan Press reported that Ms Fitzsimons died of blunt force trauma after she was rushed to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where she pronounced dead. Ms Fitzsimons' daughter Kate Fitzsimons broke the news on Friday in a post to the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation Instagram account, a charity run by the pair. 'With broken hearts we share the devastating news that we lost our beautiful Mum and the heartbeat of Nicole's Foundation, Julie Fitzsimons, in an accident yesterday,' Kate wrote. 'She was the rock of our family, a joy to be around and adored by all who knew her. 'We are absolutely shattered and ask for space as we navigate the difficult process of bringing her back home. Once we are ready, we will share more details on her celebration of life. 'For now, we find some solace in knowing she's reunited with her beloved daughter, Nicole. The Fitzy family will never be the same, but we will rebuild once again in their honour – just like they would want us to.' Kate is director and presenter at the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation, a charity set up in honour of her sister who was killed in a motorbike accident in Thailand. The charity aims to provide travel safety education for young travellers as well as financial assistance for young Australians in the performing arts and sport.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Mum of Thai crash victim killed in US
An Australian woman killed in a horror traffic accident in the US has been remembered as the 'rock' of her family who was 'adored by all who knew her'. Julie Fitzsimons, 65, was killed when she was struck by a vehicle across from Wyoming Rib & Chop House in Sheridan, Wyoming, according to local media. Nicole Fitzsimons was killed in a motorbike accident while travelling in Thailand in 2012. Credit: Supplied The Sheridan Press reported that Ms Fitzsimons died of blunt force trauma after she was rushed to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where she pronounced dead. Ms Fitzsimons' daughter Kate Fitzsimons broke the news on Friday in a post to the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation Instagram account, a charity run by the pair. 'With broken hearts we share the devastating news that we lost our beautiful Mum and the heartbeat of Nicole's Foundation, Julie Fitzsimons, in an accident yesterday,' Kate wrote. Julie Fitzsimons was killed when she was struck by a vehicle. Instagram Credit: NewsWire 'She was the rock of our family, a joy to be around and adored by all who knew her. 'We are absolutely shattered and ask for space as we navigate the difficult process of bringing her back home. Once we are ready, we will share more details on her celebration of life. 'For now, we find some solace in knowing she's reunited with her beloved daughter, Nicole. The Fitzy family will never be the same, but we will rebuild once again in their honour – just like they would want us to.' Kate Fitzsimons with her sister Nicole. Supplied Credit: News Regional Media Kate is director and presenter at the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation, a charity set up in honour of her sister who was killed in a motorbike accident in Thailand. The charity aims to provide travel safety education for young travellers as well as financial assistance for young Australians in the performing arts and sport.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Mother of Nicole Fitzsimons killed in Thailand crash dies after being hit by car in US
An Australian woman killed in a horror traffic accident in the US has been remembered as the 'rock' of her family who was 'adored by all who knew her'. Julie Fitzsimons, 65, was killed when she was struck by a vehicle across from Wyoming Rib & Chop House in Sheridan, Wyoming, according to local media. The Sheridan Press reported that Ms Fitzsimons died of blunt force trauma after she was rushed to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where she pronounced dead. Ms Fitzsimons' daughter Kate Fitzsimons broke the news on Friday in a post to the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation Instagram account, a charity run by the pair. 'With broken hearts we share the devastating news that we lost our beautiful Mum and the heartbeat of Nicole's Foundation, Julie Fitzsimons, in an accident yesterday,' Kate wrote. 'She was the rock of our family, a joy to be around and adored by all who knew her. 'We are absolutely shattered and ask for space as we navigate the difficult process of bringing her back home. Once we are ready, we will share more details on her celebration of life. 'For now, we find some solace in knowing she's reunited with her beloved daughter, Nicole. The Fitzy family will never be the same, but we will rebuild once again in their honour – just like they would want us to.' Kate is director and presenter at the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation, a charity set up in honour of her sister who was killed in a motorbike accident in Thailand. The charity aims to provide travel safety education for young travellers as well as financial assistance for young Australians in the performing arts and sport.
