Family Fundraises for CRY in Memory of Cristopher Rushton
Lincolnshire Live, 20th October 2019
Christopher Rushton passed away suddenly this year at only 32 years old of an undiagnosed heart condition. His family, devastated by his passing, decided to honour his memory by fundraising for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). His parents, Christine and Bob Rushton, along with other members of the family, took part in the CRY Heart of Durham Walk to raise money to fund CRY heart screenings.
"We have lost our wonderful son which has broke all our hearts," said Christine. "The Durham Walk is about raising awareness in the hope that this doesn't happen to other families."
Shetland CRY Fundraising Campaign Nears £25,000 Target
Shetland News, 14th October 2019
A campaign to bring Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) free heart screenings to Shetland is now near its original target of £25,000, having raised more than £23,000 following 6 months of fundraising events such as a sponsored toddler cycle and walk, Sunday tea, concerts, buffets, head shaves and more. The group behind the campaign, Shetland Heart Screening, was formed by Siobhan Pirie whose husband, John Pirie, passed away suddenly in 2017 at only 29 years old due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Siobhan wished to provide free heart screenings for everyone in Shetland, aged 14 - 35, in memory of her husband and began to fundraise to bring CRY screenings to the community.
"This total of £25,000 was going to be enough to guarantee two lots of screening, in 2021 and 2023, so to reach that in less than six months is overwhelming and something we never expected," Siobhan said. "Once we reach the target we won’t just be stopping either. We will keep raising money in order to allow the screenings to keep happening for years to come."
Mum Completes Annual CRY Heart of Durham Every Year in Memory of Son Kevin Paterson
Sunderland Echo, 13th October 2019
In 2012, 36 year old Kevin Paterson collapsed minutes after completing the Birmingham Half Marathon. He passed away of a previously undiagnosed heart condition on the way to the hospital. Since then, his family has worked with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), raising tens of thousands of pounds in order fund screenings and promote awareness of conditions like the one which took Kevin's life. His mother Patricia, along with family and friends, has been completing the annual CRY Durham Walk for the past 7 years. She states: "We all feel really strongly about continuing to raise awareness. At the walk, you look around and know that other people know how you’re feeling. It’s sad, but it is comforting."
Mum Strives to Raise Awareness of SADS in Memory of Daughter Meghan Adams
Hartlepool Mail, 11th October 2019
Twenty-two year old Meghan Adams passed away in her sleep in July of a previously undiagnosed heart condition known as Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome or Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). Now, her mother, Michelle Bailey, has made it her mission to raise awareness of the condition in order to save other young lives.
Recently, Michelle, Meghan's boyfriend Taz, her brothers Scott and Gareth and cousins Kirsty and Olivia took part in the annual Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) Durham Walk and raised over £600 for the charity.
"I needed to feel I was doing something for Meghan. I thought I need to raise awareness because I had heard of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome but I didn’t know about it properly," said Michelle. "I think a lot of people are like that. A lot of CRY’s money goes towards free screening for people aged 14-35. It can be picked up by an ECG (electrocardiogram). It’s my mission now. People need to be aware of this condition."
£10,000 Anonymously Donated to the Daniel Hughes Memorial Fund
The NWE Mail, 8th October 2019
Sue and Dave Hughes received mystery donation of £10,000 to their son's memorial fund. The couple say they were delighted by the donation which they intend to use to fund heart screenings in Barrow.
"Raising awareness of the dangers of undiagnosed heart defects is something my Sue and myself take very seriously following the death of our son Daniel," said Dave Hughes. "We have spoken to hundreds and hundreds of people about Dan and the work we do. One such conversation has resulted in an anonymous donation of £10,000 to Dan’s Memorial fund and we are pleased to say that we are going to set aside £2,500 of that to start a fund to stage a heart screening day for the young people of Barrow. "
He continued: "To stage a full day of screening for 100 young people costs £5,000 so I am going to be staging fundraising events and looking for sponsors to help fund the other £2,500."
Mum to Conquer Fear of Heights with Skydive in Memory of Son Jamie Phillips
Totnes Times, 3rd October 2019
Jamie Phillips was just 27 years old when he passed away suddenly due to a rare heart disease called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. His shocked and devastated family received support from Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and now, to honour the 1st anniversary of his death, his mother Julie Greenslade plans to jump out of an aeroplane to raise funds for the charity in his memory.
Julie plans to do a tandem skydive with her daughter Nikki Login and sister Tanya Priddis. They have already raised over £500 towards their target of £1,200.
"Jamie was cheeky, always taking the mickey, but would help anybody." Julie stated of her son. "He’s probably laughing his head off right now because I don’t like flights or heights – but we have to put ourselves out of our comfort zone."
She continued: "The fundraiser has really helped us focus because we decided to do something positive for the anniversary. Jamie was really loyal, the kind of person who would do anything for you, so we wanted to raise money for CRY to help others in a similar situation. CRY would like to screen young people for the condition so we could save a lot of mums going through this. We as a family are now having to be tested to see if we have the gene. You don’t think about your child going before you. This helps to make people aware that this disease does not just affect the old."
Couple Honoured by Prime Minister for Their Fundraising Efforts
The North West Evening Mail, 2nd October 2019
Sue and David Hughes were recognised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson with the Points of Light Award for their work in raising funds for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). They have raised more than £230,000 for CRY, funding more than 1,700 heart screenings for young people in memory of their son Daniel who passed away at only 28 years old of an undiagnosed heart condition.
In a letter to the couple, the Prime Minister stated: "I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how you have raised over £230,000 for ‘Cardiac Risk in the Young’ and arranged over 1,700 vital heart screenings in memory of your son Daniel."
"We are very pleased, honoured and surprised to be receiving a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister for the work we have been doing for 'Cardiac Risk in the Young' since the death of our son Daniel," said Sue and David. "Hopefully it will encourage people to take a look at the important work that CRY does in reducing Young Sudden Cardiac Death. Thank you to the Prime Minister and everyone concerned for this award."
Monmouth School Girls Conquer Half Marathon to Raise Funds for CRY
South Wales Argus, 3rd October 2019
The group of 6 friends from Monmouth School for Girls - Elinor Hart, Maddie Taylor, Scarlett Sarsby, Ellie Horton, Myfanwy Fleming-Jones and Catrin Jones - trained diligently for the Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon and completed it in under 2 hours and 15 minutes. Through taking part in this event they were able to raise almost £2,900 to go towards funding a Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) heart screening day for 100 young people next year.
Elinor started the Hartbeat Campaign to raise funds for screenings after her cousin, Frank Arentz, was diagnosed with a heart condition. “Frank’s diagnosis, although devastating, has potentially saved his life,” said Elinor. “Frank has had a defibrillator fitted in his chest, which means he has been able to continue his love of sport.”
Wakefield Festival of Beer Aims to Raise £15k for CRY in Memory of Rory Embling
The Business Desk, 20th September 2019
This year, the organiser of the Wakefield Festival of Beer, Wakefield Round Table, seeks to raise £15k for the Rory Embling Foundation in support of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). Rory had been apparently young and fit when he suddenly lost his life to an undiagnosed heart condition. Every week in the UK, at least 12 young people lose their lives to such diseases and conditions. CRY seeks to not only help the families of young people like Rory who have tragically lost their lives to hidden heart conditions but also to prevent such deaths through providing screenings and promoting awareness. Read More
Alex Reid’s Family Help Screen Hundreds in Her Memory
Rotherham Advertiser, 20th September 2019
More than 100 young people had heart screenings at a netball tournament held in memory of Alex Reid, a young girl who lost her life to an undiagnosed heart condition at only 16 years old. Another 96 young people were screened at her father, GP John Reid's, surgery. Five of the youths screened over this weekend of testing at Sheffield High School and Kiveton Park Medical Practice were referred for further testing.
The school has held an annual netball tournament in Alex's memory for the 6 years since her death; a fitting tribute according to her mother, Heather. She stated: "Netball was a huge part of Alex’s life. She played to a very high standard, regularly representing both her school and club at county level.It has always seemed so fitting to us hold this tournament in her memory. It’s such a celebration of her life and recognition of the overwhelming and unfaltering support we receive from Sheffield High School, its staff, sports department and the entire school community. This year, we were proud to take it a step further by bringing CRY’s expert screening team to the tournament, testing young people on site.”
Alex's parents have raised more than £100,000 for the Alex Reid Memorial Fund which both supports Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and a research programme that seeks to uncover how young people with heart conditions can continue to exercise safely. Working together with CRY, over 1000 young people in their local community of Thorpe Salvin have been screened in memory of Alex through her parent's efforts.
Woman Cycles From London to Paris in Support of CRY after Discovering Heart Condition
Welwyn Hatfield Times, 20th September 2019
Twenty-nine year old Amy Lees was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a condition which affects the electrical activity in the heart, at the age of twenty-six. After her condition was discovered, she was able to be fitted with an internal defibrillator that will restart her heart if it stops beating. On Wednesday 18th September, Amy set off on a 300 mile journey to Paris in support of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), hoping to aid the charity in raising awareness of heart conditions and sudden cardiac death in young people. She stated: "I found out when I was 26 that I had a genetic heart condition that young people have with no symptoms until sudden cardiac arrest. I found out that I had it by a fluke. The charity scans people who want to be scanned, as about 12 young people a week die from hidden heart conditions."
Amy returned from her journey - which involved cycling 80 - 90 miles a day for four days - on Saturday. She has raised £1,500 for CRY and still hopes to raise £2,000 in total. On her JustGiving page she states: "I'm really grateful that charities like CRY help keep lots of young people's tickers ticking, where like me they might not have had any symptoms of a genetic heart condition until they're screened."
10th Annual CRY Durham Walk to take place on October 5th
The Northern Echo, 20th September 2019
The Durham Walk, which has raised approximately £75,000 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) since it first began, is to take place on Saturday 5th of October. The event will begin at 11:00 am and, starting and finishing at the Durham Amateur Rowing Club, will take a scenic route along the city's riverside. Those interested in taking part have until September 30th to sign up for £12, while those who sign up on the day will pay £15. Young people and children of 16 years or younger, accompanied by their parents or guardians, can join for free.
David Jewell, a local CRY supporter who has volunteered at the event for the past three years, was made aware of CRY after his son, Damien, passed away in 2001 at just 28 years old. He stated : "Fellow bereaved dad, Jeff Morland, set up this important event in 2010 and, like me, knows the devastation of losing a son to young sudden cardiac death in his twenties. Jeff and all the other local volunteers who have helped the Durham Walk grow from strength to strength are so inspiring and I’m honoured to do whatever I can to help."
Reid Family Honours their Son’s Memory with TomFest 2019
Yorkshire Evening Post, 18th September 2019
Tom Reid passed away at just 19 years old in September of 2009 after he collapsed due to an undiagnosed heart condition while attending a Freshers event on his first day of university. This year, the Reid family, who have supported Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) since Tom passed away, hosted TomFest in his honour; a day of live music, entertainment and crafts at the Lord Gascoigne Pub in Garforth. In the evening, at the Welfare Hall in Garforth, there was a silent auction, a DJ set by Tom's brother, DJ Alex Reid, and a performance by The Flow, a band featuring Tom's cousin, Matty, on guitar. The event was well attended by family, friends and the local community and raised £3,625 for CRY.
CRY's Chief Executive, Dr. Steven Cox, stated: "All of CRY’s unique services are funded through the tireless efforts of families who have suffered the tragic and sudden loss of a child, sibling or partner. I would like to thank Halina, Anthony and Alex for their ongoing support and commitment to CRY in Tom’s memory over the past decade."
Mum to Face Fear of Heights for Fundraising Sky Dive in Memory of Son Jamie Phillip
Plymouth Live, 13th September 2019
Jamie Phillip was only 27 years old when he suddenly passed away at work due to a rare cardiac condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Now, to coincide with the first anniversary of his death, on the 30th January 2020 his mother Julie, 53, is planning to do a tandem skydive along with her daughter, Nikki Login, and sister, Tanya Priddis to raise funds for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in his memory.
"All three of us don’t like heights so we are absolutely petrified, but we decided if we were going to do something we need to put ourselves out of our comfort zones," Julie said. "We wanted to do something positive on the anniversary of Jamie's death rather than sitting here crying our eyes out."
Coronation Street Star Colson Smith to have CRY Heart Screening in Memory of Friend Rory Embling
Manchester Evening News, 9th September 2019
Next Sunday, Colson Smith - who plays Craig Tinker on Coronation Street - is to join 100 other young men, aged 14 to 35, at a Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) screening day in Castleford. The event will be hosted by the family of his friend, Rory Embling, who tragically passed away at just 26 years old in May of 2014 due to an undiagnosed heart condition.
Rory's father, Chris Embling, who built a pub in his back garden called 'Rory's Return' in 2015 in order to raise money for CRY, stated: “We are delighted that Colson – fondly known as Craig to so many of us Corrie fans in Yorkshire and across the UK – is so publicly lending his support to our weekend of screening, as well as taking the wise decision as a 21 year old, to be screened himself."
Thus far, the Friends of Rory Foundation has raised £49,000 and will continue to work to raise funds and campaign for a national screening programme to protect young people from hidden heart conditions to be introduced by government.
