|
On Wednesday June 15th, CRY hosted
a Parliamentary Reception at Westminster as part of its Raising Awareness
Week, and to help mark its 10th Anniversary.
The event was attended by more than 70 MPs who
came to show their support for CRY’s campaigning.
Other guests at
the event were CRY supporters / families; CRY President Ian Botham; CRY
Patron Mark
Cox; former sports stars Roger Taylor (Tennis) and Simon Halliday (Rugby); sponsors (representatives from Guidant and Siemens); medical professionals;
representatives of sporting organisations; CRY office staff – and many
others.
The
reception was an opportunity to look back over CRY’s achievements of the
last 10 years, and to focus particularly on CRY’s successful parliamentary
lobbying over the previous 12 months.
Rosie Winterton MP, Dari Taylor MP and Tim
Loughton MP all praised CRY in short speeches delivered at the event.
In particular, CRY’s key role in bringing about the new NSF chapter on
Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death was commended.
There was also praise for the effectiveness of
CRY’s postcard campaign, and congratulations for the rapid growth of CRY’s
All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) since the reading of Dari Taylor MP’s
Cardiac Risk in the Young (Screening) Bill in March 2004.
Also speaking at the event were CRY Chairman,
Professor Greg Whyte; CRY President, Ian Botham OBE; and CRY Chief Executive Alison Cox.
Greg Whyte and Alison Cox gave thanks to all
the MPs for their continued support of CRY, and also thanked the CRY
Patrons for all their hard work in helping to raise awareness of young
sudden cardiac deaths - particularly their willingness to
talk to the media.
Ian Botham proposed more screening in schools
of 10 – 15 year olds, and urged all those present at the reception to stay
positive and work together to continue to address the issue.
The speakers also commended CRY families for
their bravery in dealing with their tragedies.
Following the speeches, food and drink was
provided, and guests socialised for the rest of the evening.
The Parliamentary
Reception was very successful, and as they left, many guests took CRY
literature and wristbands, and thanked CRY for hosting the event.
|
