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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 Wales who lost
their lives suddenly to previously undetected heart conditions –
was unveiled at a ceremony in Cardiff on November 12.
The
symbolic campaign (which first started in 2004 to promote the
fact that 8 young deaths were, at the time, estimated every
week), will also include Gareth Thomas who died suddenly from a
condition known as Long QT Syndrome in 2007. He was aged just
21. His sister, Sian (from Llantristant) has recently ‘made
history’ by taking to the world famous
‘Fourth Plinth’ in Trafalgar Square
in order to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death and CRY’s
work.
However, the results of a national opinion poll,
commissioned by CRY, show that overall understanding of sudden
cardiac death in the young remains low in Wales with over half
of people (53%) questioned saying they were not awareness of the
scale of deaths and the fact that 12 young people are dying
every week.
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
Wales 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
good support from MPs in the AMs in the Welsh Assembly – 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.”
“We’re therefore confident that
this latest campaign will help us to target those MPs and AMs
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 Wales.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to
increasing accessibility to cardiac screening for young people,
CRY has opened a specialist screening unit based at the
University of Glamorgan.
For an appointment at the CRY Wales
clinic, parents, young people, schools or sports clubs should
contact the CRY Screening Administrator on 01737 363 222, e-mail
ecg@c-r-y.org.uk
or visit www.c-r-y.org.uk/ecg.htm
New postcards will be launched
regularly over the next 12 months, portraying victims from 12
different regions across the UK.
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