Friends and family have raised more than £2000 in memory of young
athlete Christopher Rennard, who died after taking part in a school run.
Christopher,
15, was suffering from the silent but deadly heart disease Cardiomyopathy, the same illness that caused the death of
Daniel Yorath, son of former Leeds United star Terry, pictured here with
Louise O'Brien, Christopher's mum, her four children and Alan Boot who
organised the event.
Cardiomyopathy
is a hereditary disease that causes a thickening of the heart
muscle. It is among the biggest single cause of sudden cardiac
death among young people.
At
a special fund raising event attended by the former soccer hero and now
manager of Sheffield Wednesday, members of the Stanningly Sports Club
raised over £2000 in tribute to junior member Christopher.
They
have also pledged to install a plaque celebrating his young life at the
club grounds.
Christopher,
known as Kit, was found collapsed by his sister a little over an hour
after taking part in an inter-school athletics contest for West Leeds in
November.
Tests
showed he had been killed by the same heart condition, Cardiomyopathy,
that claimed the life of Daniel Yorath, who collapsed and died playing
football in his garden.
Christopher's
mum, Louise O'Brien, of Armley, Leeds, now aims to raise thousands of pounds
for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, who are a support group for
families of victims of Cardiomyopathy and similar sudden
deaths.
Louise
said:" The fund-raising night was quite difficult; all of Kit's
friends were there and I kept looking for Kit too. It was a lovely
night though. I was reminded how much everyone cared about
Kit."
Louise
is now planning a series of fund-raising events of her own and is
appealing for help to organise them. She can be contacted through
the sports club on 0113 256 0847.
