Help Guoning Hu's Family

Guoning Hu was a dynamic and multifaceted person and my friend. How can I convey the importance and meaning of a husband, father and friend who died suddenly, unexpectedly and far too soon? It was a mixture of grief and hubris that caused me to appoint myself the task of writing this Go-Fund-Me, on behalf of my friend’s family, little realizing how hard a task it would be.

On the morning of January 2nd, I could not have imagined I would be writing this now. That morning my kids and I meet with our group of nine friends. We were excited to be able to spend another fun-filled day together. It was a rare sunny, warm, and beautiful January day that would end in tragedy.

Guoning Hu was a loving: husband, father, and good friend. He was the sole provider for his wife, 11-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. He was an award-winning industrial designer. He grew up, went to school, and worked in China. He immigrated to the United States just seven years ago. He loved traveling and being outdoors, he was an avid fisherman, hiker, mountain biker, and much more.

Our friendship started in 2020 with a chance meeting at a local bike park. Inspired by the instant connection our kids made, Guoning and I exchanged names and phone numbers. Though we did not know it at the time, the exchange of phone numbers was the beginning of a family-oriented mountain bike riding group. From that chance meeting we started riding bikes nearly every weekend. Over time and with more chance meetings, more families with young kids became part of the mountain bike group.

Two days into the new year, our small, dedicated group of mountain bikers meet at 360 Park near Gig Harbor Washington. We had already gone riding twice in the previous week. While those other rides, in inclement weather were a lot of fun, we had every expectation the January 2nd ride would be the best yet. Sunshine was above us, excellent trails were before us, and most importantly friends and family surrounded us.

After an hour and a half of challenging riding, chatting, smiling, and laughing, our lives suddenly changed forever. Guoning was found unresponsive at the base of a tree stump. From that point forward, his family, and friends stepped into a nightmare that continues to this day. His heart and breathing had stopped. CPR was started and friends and strangers came from all directions to help. An ambulance arrived quickly, EMTs restarted Guoning’s heart, and he was rushed to the nearest hospital.

Although in the aftermath we believed Guoning must have been injured as a result of a mountain bike accident, the medical examination revealed no injury as a result of a crash. As non-sensical as a lightning bolt from a clear sky, our friend’s heart had stopped. An undiagnosed heart arrhythmia caused his heart to stop beating, and too much time passed before CPR was started, his brain had been deprived of oxygen for too long.

Guoning is much loved by his family and friends and will be forever missed.

Will you help Guoning’s family by donating to this Go-Fund-Me? This is the most unexpected and challenging event for which no family could be prepared. Guoning’s family has so many needs from, funeral and burial expenses, to childcare and day-to-day living expenses. All donations will go directly to Guoning’s family.