IT might seem a bit clichéd, but love bloomed from a chance meeting between Troy Eccleston and his now fiancé Ainslie Sackey at the Albion Park Community Garden nearly three years ago.
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The pair met at the community garden soon after it opened and will tie the knot in the Southern Highlands next month.
“I had undertaken a permaculture design course in 2000, later studying environmental science and was looking to reengage with it after a period of ill health. I signed up for a cert 4 in Permaculture by distance education via TAFE and was looking for a project. I dropped in to the Albion Park Community Centre and by chance learned of their plans to start a community garden." Ms Sackey said.
“The irony was that I lived locally and hadn’t noticed the community centre, but was walking past one day on my way back from the library after researching community gardens in the area and decided to drop in. The youth worker mentioned that they were working on getting a garden going and I jumped on the idea. So I contacted my friend Ross Scholz and we decided to take on the project.”
In the meantime, Troy Eccleston was battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and was ‘bored as’, his mum mentioned the garden as an place to meet others and socialise, so he decided to check it out ..... and the rest is history.
“I was battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Troy and I struck up an instant friendship,'' Ms Sackey said. "We had lots in common and a real appreciation for each other’s strengths and limitations - our friendship grew from there.”
The couple moved in together two years ago and will become Mr and Mrs Eccleston on March 28.
The last year has been one of ups and downs for Mr Eccleston as he travelled to Russia for ground-breaking stem cell treatment for MS last September and since that time has been working hard on recuperation and rehabilitation. building his body to stop the progression of the disease.
“It was a tough trip, though the treatment went well but by the time I returned I was exhausted. But after a period of recuperation I got stuck into my rehabilitation, which is going really well,” he said.
“Apart from that, I have noticed other things - like I have a lot better tolerance to heat, my mobility is progressing well through gradually and my voice is much clearer and steadier – I don’t sound like I am drunk all the time now,” he joked. “I am also not as anxious all the time."
“The whole idea of the stem cell treatment was to halt the progression of Multiple Sclerosis and allow me the opportunity to for my body to heal as best as it can”
“The rehab with Chris Jaffrey at Anytime Fitness is awesome, while I am also practicing walking using the rails at the dance hall as well as my regular routine at home, so I am working hard.”
Ms Sackey said the whole To Russia and Back to Beat MS experience was not only life-changing for the couple but also heart-warming.
“The amount of community support we received is mind-boggling and we just can’t thank the community enough for supporting us"
