The Daniels family from Bickley, near
Chislehurst, hosted a free cardiac screening session for
teenagers from local sports clubs, in memory of their
son, Ben, who died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart
condition last year. He was aged just 15.
Ben collapsed without warning whilst playing football
with his Ex Blues FC teammates on March 5th 2011.
Despite the heroic efforts of his coach, team mates,
paramedics and the staff at St. Thomas hospital, he
passed away three day later on 8th March.
Following Ben’s tragic death, his parents - Paul and
Helena - and friends established the Ben Daniels
Memorial Fund, to help raise awareness of young sudden
cardiac death and to fund screening sessions in
partnership with CRY. Thanks to the support of friends,
family and the local community the Fund has already
raised over £50,000 (the fund has an initial target of
£100,000).
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The fund was officially
launched on March 16th, just before the sudden collapse of Bolton
footballer Fabrice Muamba.
Every week in the
UK, 12 young people (aged 35 and under) lose
their lives to sudden cardiac death - a
statistic that is believed to be a conservative
estimate. A staggering 80% of
these apparently healthy young people who die
from young sudden cardiac death will have shown
no previous sign of heart defects.
It is now widely
accepted that testing saves lives, reinforcing
the importance of the CRY screening programme
which now tests over 8,500 young people each
year.
The screening
event in Chislehurst was attended by local MP,
Bob Neill MP. He said: “The sudden and
unexpected death of Ben Daniels last year was a
desperately sad event and he clearly meant the
world to his family, his friends and all those
who were lucky enough to compete with him in the
sports he loved. |
Left to
right: local MP Bob Neill, Dr Saqib Ghani,
Paul Daniels |
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“I have no doubt that our local community will
continue to get behind the Ben Daniels Memorial
Fund, which has been set up by his parents to
help reduce the number of similar tragedies
which rob young people of life so prematurely.
We can all do our bit to honour Ben’s memory by
supporting the Fund and encouraging our young
people to attend a cardiac screening session -
regardless of whether they are showing any
symptoms or not.” |
Bob Neill MP posted his visit to the CRY
screening event on his own website |
Chief Executive and Founder of CRY, Alison Cox
MBE, said: “During this Olympic year, and in
the wake of the collapse of Fabrice Muamba,
there is heightened awareness of athletes and
elite sportspeople who may be at risk of sudden
cardiac death - although most cases will occur
within the community, in young people who enjoy
sport at a grass roots level.
“We are very pleased to be working with the Ben
Daniels Memorial Fund and are extremely grateful for
their ongoing fundraising. It takes enormous courage for
a family who has been affected by young sudden cardiac
death to be able to see beyond their own tragedy and
want to raise funds for CRY to help save another life
and prevent other families from having to suffer in the
way they have.”
All 100 places for the screening were filled, due to the
high profile of the memorial fund as well as Ben’s
involvement with a number of local sports clubs up until
his death - including Old Elthamians CC, Ravens Wood
School, Ex Blues FC, and Bromley Tennis Club. On the
day, 108 young people were screened by CRY. The
Ben Daniels Memorial Fund will also be sponsoring
another screening session later in the year at Ravens
Wood School.
Ben's father, Paul, added: “This screening event is
an important milestone for Ben’s Fund and is a fitting
and very special tribute to Ben – who is missed by so
many of his school friends and sporting colleagues. He
was such a role model and team player – we just knew we
had to do something positive in his memory.
“I can’t thank our friends, neighbours and Ben’s
friends enough for their efforts and energy in helping
us to raise funds for - and continued awareness of the
importance of - cardiac screening in young people.”
ENDS
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For photos, further
information or to arrange an interview with Paul
Daniels or a representative from the Ben Daniels
Memorial Fund please call: THE CRY PRESS OFFICE:
JO HUDSON ON 020 8786 3860 / 0770 948 7959:
jo.hudson@trinitypr.co.uk
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The CRY screening
teaming wearing
Old Elthamians
Caps, which were presented to them in honour of their
visit to the sports club
