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Who are the CRY Crusaders?
The CRY Crusaders Rugby 7s team has a
deep emotional connection with CRY.
In 2004, its founding members
were playing in an under 15's rugby game, when their team mate and
great friend Seb English died suddenly. Exactly the same thing had
happened to his Dad a decade earlier.
Howard English collapsed and died whilst playing rugby (aged 32),
when Seb was 5. His cause of death was wrongly diagnosed as floppy
mitral valve and his widow was told that this condition was not
inheritable and Howard’s death was a tragic one-off.
Sebastian was
found to have died of ARVC – which he had unknowingly inherited from
his father Howard.
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Howard and Sebastian English |
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“The devastation to our whole family was simply awful.
This kind of grief can drive you insane. I can understand why
some people go mad. CRY is a special charity and what Sebastian's
friends are doing for us and CRY through their CRY Crusaders
initiative is uplifting and completely wonderful. Please support
them in anyway you can.”
Stephanie; Seb’s Mum & Howard’s wife |
The CRY Crusaders are...
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Tournament Dates 2011
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Wanstead - 17th April |
Bournemouth -
27th to 29th May |
Slough - 2nd to
3rd July |
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Winchester -
24th April |
London Rocks -
4th June |
Reading - 15th
to 17th July |
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Farnham - 30th
April |
West Country -
16th to 19th June |
Lightwater - TBC |
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Manchester -
13th to 15th May |
Newquay - 2nd to
3rd July |
Toad 7’s - TBC |
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Some words of encouragement for the Crusaders from CRY Patrons John Inverdale
and Rob Andrew!
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Sponsor the CRY Crusaders!
As well as raising awareness of CRY and its important
work, the Crusaders hope to raise funds to support CRY’s vital
projects and
services. Please visit their Virgin Money Giving site or
their Just Giving site to sponsor them:
Alternatively please send a cheque (payable to 'CRY')
to: Unit 7 Epsom Downs Metro Centre, Waterfield, Tadworth, Surrey
KT20 5LR.
Please clearly indicate on / with your cheque that
your donation is for the CRY Crusaders initiative.
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 Professor
Sanjay Sharma, CRY Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions & Sports
Cardiology
“I head up the
CRY Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions and Sports Cardiology at
St George’s Hospital and raising awareness is the key to helping people find
CRY and learn about the work they do. I am delighted to learn of the
Crusaders' initiative which will have a big impact informing the country’s
rugby clubs and reaching out to the game at its roots. Rugby already lead
the way in sport with their screening programme - the expansion of which to
all elite players over 16 last summer significantly increased the number
that screening was offered to.
Testing sessions
took place at Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs as well as at England
representative squad training sessions with over 600 players screened by CRY. This
screening programme is consistent with policy recommended by the
International Olympic Committee, the International Rugby Board, the American
Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology. Now we need to
carry the message out to the heart of those that play the game.”
CRY Rugby Patrons
supporting the Crusaders' initiative (a full list of CRY Patrons can be found
here)
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Rob Andrew MBE
"Following the sad and sudden death of Scott Donkin whilst playing mini rugby in our
region, the charity was brought to my attention. As this is clearly a much bigger problem
than is given coverage, I am delighted to help in any way." |
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Nick Easter
"It
is a privilege for me to support CRY as a Patron. In my current role as a
Harlequins and England rugby player, I am well aware of the importance of
cardiac screening in sport and will help in whatever way I can to raise
awareness and support CRY's campaign to reduce the terrible number of young
sudden cardiac deaths that we hear about every year."
Photograph courtesy of
Christopher Bissell |
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Simon Halliday
"I feel very privileged to be a Patron of
CRY. The work of this charity is truly life changing and I genuinely feel
that we can all make a difference through our efforts.
I am full of admiration for the progress, which has already been made, and I
look forward to helping continue all the good work.
There is so much left to do.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity." |
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John Inverdale
"Howard English was a friend who was an amazing
guy and an outstanding rugby player. The ultimate
Bon Viveur. It was a truly shocking moment when he died suddenly during one
of our rugby games.
When someone dies in your arms like that on the side of a rugby pitch it is
not something you ever forget.
It was tragic beyond belief when Howard's death was compounded by the death
a decade later of
his son Sebastian, whilst playing rugby just like his Dad. No-one knew that
the condition that had killed
Howard could be genetic. CRY's screening programme is fantastic and it
is good news that they are now going to be screening our young rugby
players. In Italy they have compulsory testing of athletes and it seems so
patently obvious that we ought to be doing this too. As a Patron of CRY I
want to do all I can to help promote their programme." |
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Sir Clive Woodward OBE
“CRY's
outstanding work leading the field in addressing young sudden cardiac death
is to be applauded. The fast track services they now offer, including
funding of coroners' referrals to the CRY Centre for Expert Cardiac
Pathology, are urgently needed - as is their innovative cardiac screening
programme, both in the community and sport.
I am very pleased to be a
patron and will certainly do what I can to help.” |
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The CRY Crusaders - Rugby 7s Team
