Newtownabbey Mayor Lynn Frazer was a guest at the launch of the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) heart screening clinic at the University of Ulster recently.

She got involved with the charity after meeting two volunteers from Ballyeaston when she attended an event in May 2005 as a Deputy Mayor.  CRY is now one of her chosen charities during her term in office. 

This week she spoke of her delight that the project was getting under way. 

"I am so pleased to see this project getting off the ground at the University" said the Alliance politician. 

"The CRY volunteers in Northern Ireland have worked really hard to make this happen.  I was very moved when I met James and Margaret Gault from Ballyeaston last May.  They told me how their son Jaimie had died tragically when out cross country running with Ballyclare High School some nineteen years ago. 

"In the years following James and Margaret found support and help as they met other families who had suffered similar dreadful losses.  More recently the CRY network has become established in Northern Ireland and fundraising activities have gained momentum.  This new clinic will hopefully help detect potential heart problems and help prevent some more tragedies from Sudden Cardiac Death." she commented. 

The Mayor hopes to help raise the profile of the charity in the Newtownabbey area and CRY will benefit from a number of the Mayor's charity fundraising events this year.