Routine test could have saved so much heartache - his own story, by BBC Sports Presenter John Inverdale

Eight young and apparently healthy people aged 35 and under die suddenly every week from undetected heart conditions.  And an awful lot of them are athletes who suffer stress on a heart which, unknown to them until it’s too late, can’t cope with it. 

Four hundred seemingly fit young people a year is a shocking statistic but perhaps it doesn’t have the same impact unless you have a personal experience of losing someone in this way. 

My friend, Howard English, was an immensely-talented athlete and a team mate of mine at our rugby club, yet during a practice match one evening, as he ran down the field with the ball in his arms, he collapsed.  The next moment, he lay dying in my arms. 

How does that happen to a 32-year-old man in his prime?  He was not only an athlete, but a great pianist and fierce wit – no one escaped the rapier thrust of his tongue! 

I’ll always remember one match, captaining the team down in Cornwall on a Good Friday.  Howard had assured me he’d be there in time for the game, despite having to attend a work dinner the night before.  An hour before kick-off, there was still no sign of him, yet, as we were warming-up on the pitch, suddenly in the distance, I spotted Howard running down the street with his kit-bag over his shoulder, still wearing the suit he’d worn the night before! 

He obviously hadn’t been to bed, and he literally ran straight past us all on the pitch, making apologies, before getting changed in two minutes flat.  He played a blinder, being voted man of the match – but seconds after the final whistle, he fell asleep in the changing rooms! 

As he was such a fit man, Howard’s death brought it home just how fragile our existence is. 

In an unbelievably cruel twist of fate, 10 years later, Howard’s son Seb, aged just 15 at the time, also died suddenly during a rugby match.  It’s sad beyond belief, and his mother Steph, had been unbelievably strong to cope with this double tragedy. 

The odds of this happening are, of course, heaven-knows-how-many-to-one but, because Howard’s genetic condition hadn’t been correctly diagnosed in the post mortem, Seb had never been tested for it.  If he’d been tested, I’m sure he wouldn’t have chosen to play rugby.  Yet, in this country, we don’t routinely test for any genetic problems that people might have. 

I was amazed to discover recently, that such testing is compulsory in Italy, and I thought, “Well if the Italians can do it, why can’t we?” 

Cost obviously comes into it.  There seems to be almost a pecking order of the most important threats we should be looking at, from cancer to road deaths, but there also seems to be a lack of awareness regarding genetic heart conditions.  There’s clearly such a sporting link here, you’d have thought the sporting fraternity would realise it’s something they just can’t ignore. 

However, in the 10^th anniversary year of the national heart charity – Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) – who work to raise awareness of the problem, I’m very proud to have been asked to join the likes of Steve Redgrave, Rob Andrew and Ian Botham in becoming a patron. 

And, hopefully, if high profile people keep “banging the drum,” testing will eventually become compulsory. 

Be inspired to help – just like Tony Blair and Archbishop of Canterbury - her own story, by Julie Tanner

Andy Gard was a family friend who would sometimes baby-sit for us.  We’d play games and have fun and, in some ways, I thought of him as an older brother.  Yet, at the age of just 17, Andy suddenly passed away.  His mum and dad were on holiday when it happened.  His sister went downstairs to get him a drink when he felt unwell and, when she returned, he’d died. 

I was only five years old at the time, but I was told about the charity CRY and, by the age of seven, I was writing and editing the Kids for CRY page in the charity’s quarterly magazine.  I’ve always enjoyed writing, it’s a good way of putting down my thoughts and feelings.  And, during the past five of six years, I’ve also enjoyed interviewing the patrons for the page, such as Sir Steve Redgrave, Ian Botham and Rob Andrew. 

So, to celebrate the charity’s 10^th anniversary, I came up with the idea of collecting as many famous celebrities’ favourite inspirational sayings as I could for my book, 101 (at least!) Reasons to Get Up In The Morning. 

From my home in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, I wrote to each of the celebrities – everyone from David Jason, Julie Walters and Jonny Wilkinson, to Hugh Grant, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope John Paul II. 

The first reply I received was from Noel Edmonds, and there was a great one from Tony Blair, whose reply read, “Aim for the stars.  If you aim for the stars you might have a chance of hitting the ceiling.  If you aim for the ceiling, you might fall flat on your face.” 

My personal favourite quote was sent to me by my pen pal in Australia, and reads, “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” 

I’d like to think anyone reading the book will find quotes which give them inspiration, too, but I also hope it raises awareness about the cardiac condition, as I don’t think many people know about it. 

As someone who’s keen on sports, such as netball, I’ll be having my cardiac test next year, to make sure I don’t suffer from a genetic condition, and I only hope more young people do the same. 

With Christmas coming up, we’re all hoping the book’s going to be a bestseller.  My parents and older brother are all proud of me for what I’ve written, and I’d like to think Andy would be proud of me, too. 

Julie’s inspirational book 101 (at least!) Reasons To Get Up In The Morning, is available from bookshops or you can buy direct from the publisher at www.canterburypress.co.uk priced £7.99.