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*The
new figures are based on official statistics [ONS 2006] citing the cause
of sudden death among people aged 35 and under.
A
poster-sized version of an emotive new postcard -
featuring the photos of 12 young people from across the region
who lost their lives suddenly to previously undetected heart
conditions was unveiled
at The Four
Pillars Hotel in Witney (Oxfordshire) on Friday March 5.
The
symbolic campaign was
first developed
in 2004 as a poignant way of promoting the fact that 8 young
deaths were, at the time, estimated every week.
It
was re-launched just over a year ago at a national event in
Westminster. Updated postcards are now being released regularly
at 12 key venues from across the UK, each portraying 12
victims from that region. Over
the past 5 years, around 100,000 postcards have been requested
by CRY families to raise awareness and lobby support amongst
MPs.
The campaign has
particular significance this year as 2010 marks the 15th
anniversary of CRY. In addition, the charity is also launching
the
first ever initiative in the UK to screen every
14 year old born in 1995 (the year that CRY was founded)
across the South East
Chief Executive and Founder of the charity, Alison Cox MBE,
says; We feel as the recorded incidence of sudden cardiac
death rises it is time to re-launch this powerful campaign to
help emphasise the importance of screening and the fact that so
many of these tragic cases affecting fit and healthy young
people could have been prevented. 80% of the young people who
die from these tragedies have had no symptoms and it is only
through screening that the conditions can be identified.
These 12
faces are just a snap-shot of the problem and we need to keep up
the pressure and engage support from as many MPs as possible to
ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent other families
from experiencing similar tragedies.
This month, hundreds of postcards will be
distributed by CRY families and supporters to people across
the South of England urging them to send it back to their local MP. It is hoped
the influx of postcards will encourage MPs to add their support
to the campaign and join the
Cardiac Risk in the Young All Party Parliamentary Group.
Alison adds; We already have
huge support from MPs some of
whom have been deeply moved by a death of a young person in
their constituency and have pledged to support us in our ongoing
work and awareness raising activity.
Were therefore confident that
this latest campaign will help us to target those MPs
who are not yet aware of our commitment to preventing further
needless deaths across their region as well as spreading our
important educational messages to parents and young people
living across this region.
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