Genevieve Edmonds

3^rd July 1981 – 9^th February 2008

It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the tragic Death of Genevieve Edmonds on 9^th February 2008.

Anyone who had the privilege of working with Gen will understand the void that Gen leaves behind her.

Diagnosed with Aspergers, Gen had a unique capability to give of herself and to understand and support other people. Gen had a gift for straddling two realities. She lived with Autism and found the “non autistic” world hard to understand and to be in. Nonetheless she also understood the importance of connecting two realities assisting one “world” to understand the other. At risk and pain to herself she stood on the bridge daily and translated one world for the other in the hope that it would make a difference to others with the condition, barely asking or expecting anything for herself.

During the time she worked for Paradigm her selflessness, courage, strength, beauty, vivaciousness, humor and tenacity were just a few of the traits that marked her out as special, unique and as our friend.

Gen faced every day with courage. She faced her working days with us with more than that though. She was a font of knowledge on her own condition. She had a rapacious appetite for information that would help her to understand herself and was tireless, talented and generous in the extreme in sharing that learning to benefit others. 

Every day that she worked with and trained groups cost her more than anyone working with her would understand. At the end of the day she was exhausted. It was too much for her to process and understand the difference she made. For by standers, those like us with the privilege to watch, seeing the difference she made was awe inspiring. 

Many of us come into the work that we do to make a difference. Many of us leave never knowing whether we did or not. This is a tribute to a woman who probably never understood the difference that she made but whose contribution to making things better for others was, is and never will be in doubt.

She was our friend our colleague and we loved her. She is irreplaceable and will be sorely missed.

Rest in peace Gen.                                         The Paradigm Team

Donations in memory of Genevieve can be forwarded to the International League of the Protection of Horses via: B Livesey, 31 Bolton Street, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 3AA. Tel no: 01257 262602