Campaign targets tragic 'killer'

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas attended the launch of a hard-hitting new campaign to raise awareness of a tragic condition that affects young people.

The charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), invited MPs from all parties to view a poster-sized version of a new postcard that features the photographs of eight young people who lost their lives to previously undetected heart conditions.

All the victims pictured had no apparent symptoms or history of bad health, and it is thought that many of the hundreds of sudden deaths that occur every year in the UK could be prevented if simple cardiac screening was made more accessible.

Alison Cox, the charity’s founder and chief executive, said: “Today marks a real milestone in our ongoing campaign to raise awareness of sudden death in young people.  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.

“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.

The giant postcard was unveiled at the House of Commons by veteran tennis star and patron of CRY, Mark Cox.

  Mr Lucas said: “I am very pleased to have this opportunity to show my support for CRY’s ongoing campaign and I applaud the charity for tackling the issue of sudden death in the young in such a brave and emotive way.  It should certainly make the public – and all the MPs – take notice of their important work and pledge support to their campaign.”