Portstewart youth who died suddenly during football game is set to feature in nationwide campaign

The face of a much-loved sportsman from Portstewart who died tragically at a young age from a heart condition is to appear on a flurry of thought-provoking postcards highlighting cardiac risk in the young. 

The untimely death of Aaron Lundy who died aged 19 during a football game will continue to touch many hearts both at home and nationwide as his young face fronts a nationwide major campaign. 

Since his death his father John Lundy has lobbied for cardiac screening among the young as Northern Ireland’s representative of pioneering heart charity CRY UK (CRY). 

In an attempt to turn a terribly negative situation into a positive, John took on sole responsibility for raising the profile of CRY in Northern Ireland, a charity which can actively save local young peoples’ lives who may, unbeknown to them or their family, be at risk of Sudden Death Syndrome, an umbrella term used for the many different causes of cardiac arrest in young people. 

As a bereaved parent John has benefited greatly from the work of CRY and is quite clearly honoured and focussed upon being the best ambassador for the charity that he can. 

Still coming to terms with his son's untimely death, John is to share his heartbreaking story with hundreds of people at a special launch during the pioneering heart charity’s upcoming hard hitting 12 month tour. 

As part of this campaign, CRY has unveiled a poster-sized version of a thought-provoking new postcard – featuring Aaron among the eight young (i.e. under the age of 35) people who lost their lives suddenly to previously undetected heart conditions. 

The postcard also includes Gaelic footballer, Cormac McAnallen, who died suddenly last year, aged just 24. 

Northern Ireland has been selected as the latest venue in the charity’s hard hitting, 12-month lobbying tour, highlighting the tragic condition known as sudden cardiac death in the young. 

Most of the eight victims pictured – who all came from the region – had no apparent symptoms or history of bad health.  Yet it’s widely acknowledged that many of the hundreds of sudden deaths which occur every year in the UK could be prevented if simple cardiac screening was made more accessible. 

The launch will include short and informal speeches from Alison Cox, Founder and Chief Executive of CRY and John. 

Alison Cox says:  “By showing just some of the faces behind the stories we read and hear about all too often we can help people begin to understand the heartbreak caused by this cruel killer and highlight the fact that it can happen to anyone, at anytime – usually without warning. 

She adds: “Yet these eight faces – representing the eight lives lost a week in the UK – show just a snap-shot 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.” 

For years John has been spearheading pioneering work raising awareness and funds for CRY.  As a fitting tribute to his son, an extremely well known and gifted golfer, John’s family and in particular Manager of Portstewart Golf Club, Mr Michael Moss organised the hugely successful Aaron Lundy Memorial Golf Tournament at Championship Links Course, Portstewart Golf Club to raise crucial funds for CRY.  John never loses sight of his end goal.  He fervently believes that as soon as awareness is raised and action taken lives of young people like Aaron will be saved.  A very practical way in which CRY can do this is to offer ECG screening tests for up to 35-years-old young people in their mobile cardiac units. 

This month, thousands of postcards will be distributed by CRY supporters to people in Northern Ireland, urging them to send it back to their local MP.  It is hoped the ‘flurry’ of postcards will encourage MPs to add their support to the campaign and join the charity’s All Party Parliamentary Group. 

A new card twill be launched every month, portraying victims from 12 different regions across the UK.  CRY hopes the postcards will maintain the momentum set earlier this year when the Department of Health agreed to add a new chapter to the National Service Framework on Coronary Heart Disease, dedicated to sudden death among young people. 

A giant replica of the postcard was launched at the House of Commons last July by veteran tennis star, Mark Cox – who is a patron of CRY – and Jeremy Bates. 

The campaign is backed by other ‘famous faces’ from the world of sport, including CRY president Ian Botham who is also featured on the card.  Many – although not all – of the young people affected by sudden cardiac death, are often struck whilst taking part in competitive sport or physical activity.