Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is a national charity raising awareness of potentially-genetic cardiac abnormalities in young people. 

The charity also offers bereavement support and promotes and subsidises screening for those at risk. 

Surprisingly, the high-risk group includes athletes, illustrated by the deaths of 25-year-old David Longhurst, a York City footballer who died during a televised match, and 22-year-old Adrian Hawkins, a cyclist shortlisted for the Barcelona Olympic squad.  He died just after winning a major race. 

The charity’s president is former England cricketer Ian Botham. 

The latest campaign follows the work of Dari Taylor, the MP for Stockton South, who drew up a private members’ bill, the Cardiac Risk in the Young (Screening) Bill. 

The bill was not passed into law but elements will be adopted in new legislation later this year into the national service framework for coronary heart disease. 

The South East regional launch of CRY’s 12-month lobbying tour took place last week.  The charity’s founder and chief executive, Alison Cox, gave a speech. 

“By showing just some of the faces behind the stories we read and hear about all too often, we can help people to understand this cruel killer and highlight the fact that it can happen to anyone, at any time – usually without warning,” she said. 

“Yet these eight faces – representing the eight lives lost a week in the UK – show just a snapshot of the problem. 

“We need to keep up the pressure and engage support from as many MPs as possible to make sure we can prevent other families from experiencing such tragic losses.” 

Stephanie Paterson has written to Esher & Walton MP Ian Taylor to ask him to join  the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cardiac Risk in the Young. 

“What we are hoping to do is keep the profile of CRY in parliament with this parliamentary group,” said Alastair. 

There are 68 MPs in it so far, with a target total of 100 members. 

“We would like Ian Taylor to be one of that 100,” said Alastair. 

“It’s only through parliamentary and media publicity that we can raise awareness, with a huge amount being done on the medical side. 

“Those two combined will result in more screening and result in fewer people dying.” 

A spokeswoman at Ian Taylor’s office said the MP has already been sent several postcards and the MP has followed up the issue by writing to the health minister, John Hutton.