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Courageous
parents struggling to come to terms with the loss of their children have
joined forces to ensure their tragic deaths have not been in vain.
Geoff
and Maureen Rutherford, who run the Miners Arms in Maeshafn near Mold,
lost their 31-year-old son Jonathan to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in
January.
The
grieving pair has answered a charity call from Connah’s Quay campaigner
Doreen Harley, who lost her 27-year-old daughter Lisa to an undiagnosed
heart condition in 1998.
As
Cardiac Risk in the Young’s – CRY - divisional representative, Doreen
is striving to raise £6,666 to bring a mobile screening unit to North
Wales to check as many youngsters as possible for signs of the
life-threatening condition. And in return for the help and support they
received from the self-supporting
charity after their son’s sudden death, Geoff and Maureen are hoping to
raise a fundraising fortune towards the chronicle-backed
appeal by hosting an event on August 4th.
 ‘We’re
having our sixth annual Jazz Day at the pub,’ said Geoff. ‘Last year
we exceeded £2,000 and we’re hoping this year will be just as
successful.’
The
event, dubbed Jazz on a Summer’s Afternoon, is expected to draw crowds
of music-lovers to the pub.
This
year it is being hosted in conjunction with Mold and Buckley Lions, which
Geoff joined in
1995.
‘We
will split the profits. Half will go to Guide Dogs for the Deaf and the
other half to CRY,’ he said.
Alyn
and Deeside MP Mark Tami launched the North Wales screening fund last
month who recently raised its importance in the House of Commons.
The Lions plan to give the cause a big boost over the next two years,
having pledged their commitment to helping Doreen raise the cash for the
unit, which will help detect the condition that kills four to eight
apparently fit and healthy young people in the UK every year. ‘There was
no reason for our son to die,’ said Maureen. ‘He was a strong, fit man
and losing him was such a shock.’ Maureen said the family, who moved to
Mold from Sunderland in 1984 had never heard of Sudden Adult Death
Syndrome until Jonathan’s inquest.
‘We
were looking for a resolution as to why he died but the verdict just
seemed ridiculous,’ she said. ‘People don’t just die for no reason,
we thought.
‘It
was soon after he died that I met Doreen and heard about CRY,’ she said.
‘They do a tremendous job, not only supporting families and raising
awareness but arranging screening for the rest of the family.’
Jonathan’s
sisters, Julie, who lives locally, and Joanne, a teacher in America, are
expected to be screened for the hereditary syndrome.
The
loving dad’s one-year-old daugher Emma is also awaiting tests which
will determine whether she has inherited her father’s gene.
‘The
knock-on effect for the rest of the family is massive,’ she said. ‘But
it’s so important everyone gets screened and that’s why we’re
supporting Doreen.’
Julie’s
children Dominic, and two-year-old William a also awaiting tests, which
Doreen’s grandchildren have ready had.
Local
businesses and Scottish Courage Brewery have pledged their support to the
cause sponsoring the Sunday afternoon event, which will start 3pm.
A
marquee has been loaned a discount rate from Buckley based Tents and
Events, where Jonathan worked.
Punters
are advised to bring chairs and can dig deep for donations and try their
luck at the raffle. A sizzling barbecue will provided.
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