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The
picture of a man from Frome who died of an undetected heart condition
features on a postcard aimed at highlighting unexpected cardiac death in
young people.
Julian
Wort, who died aged just 28, is one of eight victims featured on postcards
distributed by the national charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young.
Up to eight young people a week die suddenly of undetected heart
conditions, although CRY believes this may be a conservative estimate.
Julian’s
parents Shirley and David live in Westwood Drive, Frome, and are local
organisers of CRY.
All
eight of the victims on the postcards come from the Southwest and had no
apparent symptoms or history of bad health.
CRY
supporters in the Southwest are
being sent hundreds of postcards this month.
They are being asked to send the cards to their MP’s, urging them
to join a campaign to try and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The
charity says that simple cardiac screening could prevent many of the
tragedies.
Chief
executive and founder of the charity, Alison Cox, said that showing some
of the faces behind the stories might help people understand the
heartbreak caused by this cruel killer.
She
warned, “It can happened to anyone at anytime – usually without
warning.”
Many,
although not all, of the young people affected by Sudden Cardiac Death are
struck whilst taking part in competitive sport of physical activity and
many famous faces from spot, including CRY president Ian Botham, are
backing the campaign.
Veteran
tennis stars Mark Cox and Jeremy Bates launched a giant replica of the
postcard at the House of Commons this summer.
The
CRY summer fun quiz raised £77 for the Julian Wort Memorial Fund.
There
were two winning entries with 64 questions correct out of 70, so the first
prize was shared between Claire Burge from Frome and Linda Miles from
Bristol.
Many
thanks to all who bought and entered the quiz, and the various outlets
that sold them. Also to
Ellenbray for the photocopying.
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