CRY’s 30th anniversary year has provided an incredible platform for reflecting on the achievements, progress and milestones met over the past 3 decades. But it’s also presented a huge opportunity to look ahead to new areas the charity wishes to explore and campaigns that CRY wants to champion in 2026, not least the re-launch of the Cardiac Risk in the Young APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group).
So, the first step in this process was to hold an event in Westminster (a MP drop in) on Tuesday December 2, to re-engage with Parliamentarians from across all parties and to ‘showcase’ CRY’s intentions of “leading the conversation” and playing a greater role in informing key decision-makers around the importance of cardiac screening in young people, aged 14-35.
Jointly hosted by Amanda Hack, MP for North West Leicestershire (who will be taking over as Chair of the Cardiac Risk in the Young APPG in January 2026) and Liam Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge – this inaugural event generated impressive support, with over 30 MPs attending (or represented by policy assistants) and many others reaching out to CRY ahead of the event to express their interest in joining the APPG and lending their support to our revigorated campaign.
CRY was also delighted to be joined by influential and hugely respected members of its wider team, who took the time out from their busy schedules to ‘meet and greet’ MPs, answer questions about CRY’s work and all they hope to achieve (whether clinically or operationally) – and to ensure that all those who ‘dropped in’ left with a greater understanding of its ongoing ‘mission’ to prevent young sudden cardiac death.
Thanks go to CRY’s Consultant Cardiologist (since 1995), Prof Sanjay Sharma, one of the world’s leading experts in sports cardiology and inherited heart conditions; CRY Trustee, James Brown and Dr Saran Marwaha (Consultant Cardiologist at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – who had previously spent 3 years as part of her specialist training on the prestigious Cardiac Risk in the Young Research Fellowship Programme).
And, just as vital to the success of the event, were the efforts of the inspiring community of ‘CRY families’ who contacted and encouraged their local constituency MPs to attend, advocating for the charity and explaining ‘why we do what we do’, whilst highlighting the importance – and impact – of MP involvement and engagement.
An APPG gives campaigning organisations a formal presence in Parliament, creating a dedicated forum for MPs and Lords to discuss and champion the cause across party lines, demonstrating that protecting young lives isn’t a partisan issue.
This isn’t new territory for CRY – the Cardiac Risk in Young APPG was originally established in 2002 and chaired for over 20 years by Kevan Jones, playing a vital role in raising awareness, shaping policy, and promoting life-saving research and cardiac screening. Following Kevan’s move to the House of Lords, and a dramatic change in the ‘make up’ of the House of Commons at the 2024 General Election, the APPG is being relaunched after this brief hiatus, with its formal IGM (Inaugural General Meeting scheduled for mid-January). CRY is massively motivated by the potential of the Group and practical policy changes it can push for, such as:
YSCD is often invisible in public health discussions – but an APPG will help keep the issue on the parliamentary agenda and in the media mindset, challenging the misconception that heart conditions only affect older people. APPGs can also conduct inquiries and gather evidence from families, medical professionals, and charities such as CRY, producing reports and holding events and round tables that influence government policy and public understanding.
Amanda Hack MP, concludes; “It was a pleasure to sponsor the Cardiac Risk in the Young drop-in at Parliament with my colleague, Liam Conlon MP. I was first made aware of CRY around ten years ago through the efforts of a friend of mine who was fundraising for the charity. The work that CRY does to detect and prevent young sudden cardiac deaths is so important, and I’ve seen first-hand the incredible support they provide for bereaved families.
“In January, I will be re-formulating the Cardiac Risk in the Young APPG and it will be a privilege to carry this work forward in Parliament.”