Thousands Raised for Heart Charity

A couple have raised thousand of pounds to try to stop young people dying from an undetected heart condition following their 13-year-old daughter’s sudden death.

Robi and Kate Fox from Woodbridge, have raised £12,000 for the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) charity along with their children Mark and Sam, friends and colleagues, following the death of sporting enthusiast Laura Fox in 1998.

Laura was a pupil at Farlingaye High School, Woodbridge and she had just returned from a family holiday in France when she died.  An inquest ruled she died after suffering an epileptic fit, but her parents believe she was the victim of a type of adult cot death.

Mr and Mrs Fox believe Laura had an undetected rate condition called cardiac arrhythmia and after her death they pledged to fund research into the mysterious condition.  They heard that British Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave had lost a childhood friend as a result of a cardiac abnormality.  They wrote to him, told him of the work CRY carried out and he agreed to become a patron of the charity.

Now PC Fox, a Suffolk Air Observer, and his family are handing over an electrocardiogram testing machine to the doctor’s surgery in St John’s Street, Woodbridge.  The machine will be used daily by the surgery and the charity will use the equipment during screening weekends.

“Cardiac abnormalities do not only affect overweight middle-aged people,” Mr Fox said.  “Between four and eight young people lose their lives each week due to undetected heart conditions, many of which could have been treated if discovered in time.  My family’s association with CRY began when my own 13-year-old daughter died suddenly in August 1998.”

“My daughter was very athletic and loved sports.  Up until the time of her death, we had no idea she had any problems whatsoever with her heart.”

The charity aims to raise awareness of the importance and relevance of offering screening to young people; to emphasise how much can be done, if a heart condition detected; and to support medical research into cardiac abnormalities.

CRY also offers counselling and support to families affected by the loss of a young relative and wants to develop a unique sports cardiology service available to all levels of sports people.

Laura was a member of the school netball team and holder of the school record for the long jump in her year.  Becoming a famous sportswoman or a PE teacher were among her ambitions.