Andy Burnham MP

Minister of State for Delivery and

Quality at the Department of Health

[click here to listen to

Andy Burnham's speech]

On Wednesday July 5^th CRY hosted its annual Parliamentary Reception at Westminster as part of its Raising Awareness Week.

We were delighted to welcome newest patron David Walliams to the Reception. The 'Little Britain' comedian, having just completed his fantastic channel swim in a little over 10 hours, attended the event to raise awareness of CRY’s work in preventing Sudden Cardiac Death.

The event was attended by more than 50 MPs who came to show their support for CRY’s campaigning. 

Other guests at the event were CRY supporters / families; CRY Surgery Supporters Club members; CRY Patron Simon Halliday; former football professional Andy Scott; representatives from event sponsors Philips Medical Systems; medical professionals; representatives of sporting organisations; CRY office and screening staff – and many others.

The event was hosted by Dari Taylor MP, Dr Vincent Cable MP and Tim Loughton MP, and was the key event in CRY’s Raising Awareness Week.

During the evening CRY revealed an important new initiative that was made possible due to some very successful fundraising undertaken by Simon Halliday. CRY will be providing a 3-year grant of £180,000 to fund research by Dr Mary Sheppard, an expert cardiac pathologist who specialises in Sudden Cardiac Death syndrome.

These funds will allow her to gain access to 700 hearts that have been retained for indications of Sudden Cardiac Death, which is often undetected during a post mortem.

There were a number of speakers at the event, including Andy Burnham MP (Minister of State for Delivery and Quality at the Department of Health); Dr Roger Boyle (National Director for Heart Disease); Dr Mary Sheppard (Consultant Pathologist, Royal Brompton Hospital); Alison Cox (Founder and Chief Executive of CRY); David Walliams; and several others. 

CRY Chairman Professor Greg Whyte introduced each of the speakers.

The Reception was heralded as a great success by those who attended, and it was a compelling reminder of CRY's various initiatives, and the importance of CRY's work.

Tim Loughton MP

Co-host of the Parliamentary Reception

[click here to listen to

Tim Loughton's speech]

Annette Brooke MP

Speaking on behalf of co-host

Dr Vincent Cable MP

[click here to listen to Annette Brooke's speech]

Dr Roger Boyle

National Director

for Heart Disease

[click here to listen to

Roger Boyle's speech]

Simon Halliday

CRY Patron

[click here to listen to

Simon Halliday's speech]

Dr Mary Sheppard

Consultant Pathologist

[click here to listen to

Mary Sheppard's speech]

David Walliams

CRY Patron

[click here to listen

David Walliams' speech]

Alison Cox

CRY Chief Executive

[Alison Cox's speech

and SS Club members]

Jeff Morland

CRY Supporter

[click here to listen to

Jeff Morland's speech]

Dari Taylor MP

Secretary of the CRY APPG

[click here to listen to

Dari Taylor's speech]

Click here for a full transcript of all the speeches

CRY Patron David Walliams with members of the CRY Surgery Supporters Club

CRY Patrons David Walliams and Kathryn Harries with CRY Bereavement Supporters

CRY Patron David Walliams with some of the CRY team

CRY Patron David Walliams with CRY Chairman Professor Greg Whyte and family

Left to right: Steve Whyte, David Walliams, Professor Greg Whyte & George Whyte

CRY Chairman Professor Greg Whyte and CRY Chief Executive

Alison Cox

David Walliams with new Patron Andy Scott

New Patrons David Walliams, Kathryn Harries

& Simon Halliday

The first guests arrive at the Reception

Guests at the Reception listening to speeches

Outside the Terrace Marquee on the banks of the Thames

Sponsors of the event Philips Medical Systems with David Walliams

Andy Scott (left) talking to Dr Sanjay Sharma and his wife

Seema at the Reception