I founded CRY in 1995 to help support families after a young sudden cardiac death and to try to save young lives through greater awareness, screening and research. Over the next 25 years I talked on the phone with more than 2,000 bereaved mothers, fathers, partners, siblings, grandparents as well as friends and relatives of so many young people who died so suddenly, so tragically, without any warning. During this period of supporting families, I have written many articles on different aspects of grief, sharing my experience with the hope it will in some way help you. This page includes many of the articles I have written as well as links to other support resources which we hope will help you now or at some time in the future.
After more than 30 years, CRY Founder Alison Cox MBE retires
After dedicating over 3 decades to the noble cause of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) the organisation’s founder and former CEO, Alison Cox MBE, has made the decision to step back and retire. With warm regards from CRY’s Chairman, Hugh Mulcahey, we invite you to delve into the full column & the remarkable story of Alison Cox as she gracefully concludes her extraordinary and unwavering journey with CRY.
The impact on the family after a young sudden cardiac death
From the CRY Update magazine issue 85, this column is written by CRY Founder Alison Cox MBE. The impact on the family after a young sudden cardiac death can be devastating and unpredictable.For Bruce Lord, himself the youngest of seven children, he found it stretched cruelly to his mother who could not come to terms with
The importance of CRY’s Heart of London Bridges Walk
From the CRY Update magazine issue 86, this column is written by CRY Founder Alison Cox MBE. It is significant that CRY’s annual Heart of London Bridges Walk has become such a massive feature in the CRY calendar that we start preparing for it immediately after the previous one has finished.The power of our families coming
Screening and its central importance to CRY
Screening and its central importance to CRY – Alison’s Column Update 71 I first discussed cardiac screening for fit and healthy young people in 1993 with Professor Bill McKenna following family tests – before I had started my counselling training or had any thoughts of CRY. My background was in tennis and Professor McKenna was very
Understanding the full impact of a young sudden cardiac death
This is Alison Cox’s column from issue 84 of the CRY Update magazine Supporting a bereaved friend following the sudden cardiac death of a young family member The key is to understand that you cannot cheer your friend up. That you cannot get them to feel better.However, what you can do is to be with them
How I first learned about cardiac conditions in young people – By CRY Founder Alison Cox MBE
This is the first part of CRY’s “Looking Back at 25” series. As we mark our 25th year anniversary, these articles will remember key parts of CRY’s history, and look at how the charity has developed and got to where it is today. ….. After one year at a tennis orientated Texas High School and a
Coping with Father’s Day by Alison Cox MBE
Fathers Day comes at a time of the year when Dads are happily poised, anticipating the prospect of being able to spend warm summer evenings enjoying outside activities with their family. Children love this time of year too. However the excruciating burden of coping with your feelings after a child has died suddenly changes the perspective
The critical issue of family screening
The critical issue of family screening – Alison’s Column Update 74 In 1995 when I started taking calls – nearly always from distraught mothers after the sudden death of their child – one of the most important things I knew that I needed to clarify was whether they had any other children because of the risk of
The development of CRY’s bereavement support programme
The development of CRY’s bereavement support programme – Alison’s Column Update 73 When I started CRY in 1995, I increasingly became aware of how affected families were left floundering not only for an explanation as to what could possibly have caused their tragedy, but also some understanding as to how much it was happening, as well
Why MPs Matter to CRY
Alison’s column from Update 72 By the summer of 1998 Adrian Woodhead, a quiet shy young man, had received a response from several of the then 659 sitting MPs to whom he had sent a handwritten letter. These letters told of the young sudden cardiac death of his wife, Sarah, who had collapsed and died in
