We’re so humbled to be able to share with you, the story of Chloe Bidwell and her family. Chloe’s family recently took on the incredible challenge, of skydiving as a tribute to her memory.
This is their story…
On the 20th December 2023, our lives changed forever, when we discovered Chloe died in an accident while at work, at just 18 years old.
Chloe was an extremely talented carpenter who had won gold in the Welsh skills competition and was selected to compete in the UK skill build in Milton Keyes. Not only was she a talented carpenter through her work, but she was also a very active young woman who had many passions and interests. She was a very talented skydiver, where she used to jump at Tilstock Shrewsbury. As a 16th birthday gift, I took Chloe for a tandem skydive and from there she was hooked and awarded student of the year for her achievements in skydiving. As parents, we had many a journey up and down from Tilstock to support Chloe in her skydiving dreams.
Chloe was also keen to be on the water whether it be surfing, freediving, windsurfing, cliff jumping, paddleboarding or just swimming. She just loved being in the ocean. Her passion for keeping the oceans clean was evident when she used to come in from the sea with a bag full of rubbish, from the bottom of the sea.
In addition to all this, she was a brown belt in Karate and taught youngsters with passion, alongside her Sensai. Chloe was also a keen rugby player, playing for Mo Stars on Anglesey and was selected for RGC where she played fullback. She found rugby a great way of meeting friends who had the same drive and passion for sport and also liked to party just like her!
We have many happy memories but one that always comes to mind more recently, and what everyone always talks about, was Chloe’s 18th Birthday Party we had at the house. Chloe wanted it to be memorable and wow was it memorable! We had various drinking games, fancy dress, party games in the garden, giant Jenga and corn hole. Chloe loved caterpillar cake, so we decided to make a giant one (due to how many people were attending) which was the length of our 10ft dining room table with 18 candles. It was a beautiful day, which we will always hold dear in our hearts.
Chloe has left a massive hole in our lives, which will never be filled. We still expect her to walk in through the door but know that isn’t going to happen. I constantly blame myself for it all. Counselling has helped somewhat but, as a parent, you constantly blame yourself and I don’t think that will ever change. The support from my family and friends has been a big help. I haven’t been afraid to speak out when I’m down or struggling. I am very lucky to have such loving people around me.
One thing I wanted to do was to spread some of Chloe’s ashes in the sky as we all know how much she loved being in the air, free. As a family, we contacted the Tilstock skydiving family and they fully supported us in what we intended to do. It was a very emotional day but what made it special was friends and family there to support us all. When I got on that plane, I felt no nerves as I knew Chloe was with me. It just felt right spreading some of her ashes out of the plane, taking her final skydive over the drop zone.
I was very touched by the story about how 2wish was formed and decided to give something back as they have been a massive help to us as a family. The money raised, I hope, will give some other family the same support we have been given and help them, to not move on, but to move forward.
I would like to thank 2wish for their support. They have provided constant contact providing massage therapy and counselling as well as regular check-ins from 2wish representatives and our counsellors. Knowing that you have support is a big help. Although it doesn’t bring Chloe back, it does help us come to terms with what has happened.
One of the ways that has helped deal with what has happened is myself and Lewis (Chloe’s best friend), set up an Instagram page called @chloelogotravels. One thing Chloe wanted to do was to travel the world, which unfortunately never got the chance. The Chloe logo was designed by Fearne, her big sister. The logo shows the windows of her life from skydiving to freediving, windsurfing, karate and rugby. We had this logo placed on stickers, badges, slates, hoodies, t-shirts, phone cases and even jibbitz for Crocs. This has allowed people to take Chloe’s memory around the world and every time they see somewhere beautiful, they would take a photo with the Chloe logo, thinking of Chloe and how much she would have loved it. We love, as a family, seeing people travelling the world and thinking of Chloe and their love and support for us as a family. If you would like a logo sticker or an image for your phone, please follow us on Instagram @chloelogotravels #chloelogotravels. Chloe’s logo helps keep her memory alive.
We’d like to say a huge “thank you” to the Bidwell family for all they have done to raise money for 2wish Cymru. A huge £3580.26 was raised! This could fund 89 memory boxes for those suddenly bereaved or even fund the refurbishment of 2 family rooms in hospitals. Our North Wales fundraiser Laura now has a Chloe logo slate and will be sure to take it on her travels when working throughout North Wales.
10 September 2024
