1st December 2011
Bereaved families from across Scotland are helping to launch a major regional campaign to highlight the shocking statistic* showing that the number of young people who lose their lives to the tragic condition sudden cardiac death now stands at 12 every week – a staggering 50% rise on previous estimates.
(*The figures are based on official statistics [ONS 2006] citing the cause of sudden death among people aged 35 and under.)
80% of the young people who die from these tragedies have had no symptoms and it is only through screening that the condition can be identified.
A poster-sized version of an emotive new postcard – featuring the photos of 12 young people from across Scotland who lost their lives suddenly to previously undetected heart conditions – was unveiled at a ceremony held within the Scottish Parliament buildings on Thursday December 1st.
Mr John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, also spoke at the event.
John Swinney MSP speaking at the event
CRY Supporter Gordon Murch
The symbolic campaign was first unveiled in Scotland back in 2007 as a poignant way of promoting the fact that 8 young deaths were, at the time, estimated every week. The new version (which has also been re-launched at a number of venues across the UK) is a sad reflection of the ongoing increase in the statistics of young sudden cardiac death.
Chief Executive and Founder of CRY, Alison Cox MBE, says;
“As the recorded incidence of sudden cardiac death rises, it is timely for us to return to Scotland to re-launch this powerful campaign as a way of emphasising the importance of screening.
“These 12 faces are just a ‘snap-shot’ of the problem and we need to keep up the pressure and engage support from as many MSPs and MPs as possible to ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.”
With the launch of this new ’12 a week’ postcard, CRY is appealing for the public and politicians in Scotland to show their support to the charity by emailing [email protected]
Dr Anna Maria Choy, John Swinney MSP and Professor Stewart Hillis
Names of all MSPs who respond will be highlighted on the CRYScotland webpage, in addition to the work being done in Scotland to address this critical issue.
Alison Cox adds; “We would also like to congratulate the Scottish Government on their bold cardiac screening initiative in sport, led by Professor Stewart Hillis, which recognises the incidence and impact of young sudden cardiac death in Scotland.”