Tragic Gran's bid to help save lives

Kathy backs campaign to fight rare genetic heart disorder

A Devon grandmother who has lost three members of her family to a rare genetic heart disorder has helped launch a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the condition. 

Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome has already claimed the lives of two of Kathy Moyle’s daughters, Pauline and Rosaleen, and her 17-year-old grandson Matthew. 

Now Pauline and Matthew’s faces are being featured on the hard-hitting campaign postcard designed by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). 

The postcards will be sent to MP’s throughout the country.  CRY hopes that they will hep generate enough support to ensure the Cardiac Risk in the Young Bill, which focuses on better screening, is passed by parliament.  The bill is committed to reducing the number of people who die from heart conditions through improved and increased screening of the close relatives of those already diagnosed. 

After the deaths in her family, Kathy, of East Budleigh, was screened and she discovered that she also suffered from Long QT Syndrome, which affects the heart’s electrical rhythm and can occur without warning in otherwise-healthy people. 

Kathy who has now been fitted with a defibrillator, said “It’s difficult seeing Pauline and Matthew’s faces on the postcard, but it’s a comfort to know that they will be helping to save other lives. 

“I’m proud that they’ve been chosen and I’m glad to known they didn’t die in vain. 

“The CRY campaign will increase awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome and Long QT and that’s half the battle – if you don’t know about it, how can you ask any questions?

“Ben Bradshaw is going to get a surprising amount of postcards this year.”

The Chief Executive of CRT, Alison Cox, said: “The aim of the campaign is to make MP’s aware of CRY and its work and to ensure they support the bill in parliament.  If the bill is passed all first-degree relatives of those diagnosed with Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome would have access to free screening and it could save many, many lives.” 

Postcards can be obtained from the Ironbridge Runner Shop in Exeter which is helping to sponsor the campaign in the South West.