CRY Representatives
The role of a CRY Representative is to be an advocate for CRY and to have input in the development of CRY’s aims and initiatives in their designated area.
Angela Butler – Staffordshire
My name is Angela Butler. I live in Newcastle under Lyme with my husband Phil – we had 2 sons, Nathan and Joshua. We were a very happy family spending lots of time travelling the country supporting Nathan and Josh with all their sporting interests and activities. Wednesday, 22nd February, 2006 started off as another normal
Aravon McCann
I have chosen to be a CRY representative after the death of my 8 year old daughter, Aine, in 2002. She had an unknown heart
Charlotte Luckett – North Devon
My brother Martyn moved up to Swindon with me in April 2005 to find work and to get a bit of life experience away from home. Whilst he was up with me I think he learnt an awful lot about life without our parents’ support and I believe he actually found himself as an individual. Martyn
Dani West – Derbyshire
I first met Sam Wright when we started the same secondary school at 11 years old. Before long we became good friends and I was constantly amazed and inspired by his enthusiasm for fun and adventure. He saw the best in everyone in everything and had a strong passion for making others happy. I can remember
Daniel Mason – Pembrokeshire
In June 2006 my family and I were on holiday in Center Parcs when my brother Dean, aged just 26, passed away from a cardiac arrest caused by an undiagnosed cardiac problem. It was found that my brother had a slightly enlarged left ventricle and no other issue could be found as to the cause of
Dave and June Boulton – Bristol
We became aware of CRY following the sudden death of our son Jack in August 2009. Jack, who was 17, collapsed during football training in Saltford on August 19th 2009. Jack was a talented sportsman and had a bright academic future ahead of him. He attended the sixth-form at Wellsway School and played football for Keynsham
Dave and Sue Hughes – Stoke on Trent
“I’m going up now Dad”; “O.K. son I’ll see you later”; this conversation between my son Daniel and myself seemed pretty normal at 9:30 P.M. on the evening of March the 18th 2015, little did we know that it would be the last time anyone would speak to him. My wife Sue and I had been
David Jewell – Tyne & Wear
In May 2001 my son, Damien aged 28, went to bed and did not wake up. The post-mortem identified that he had suffered an “acute myorcorditous” – losing your only child is devastating. I became aware of CRY at this time but I did not take the opportunity to use any of their service. Instead I
Deborah Anderson – Durham
My name is Deborah Anderson and I was truly blessed to have four healthy fit children. Three daughters and one son. Then in 1998 my son, Dean, caught a chest infection and my family doctor, who examined him, said she thought he may have a heart murmur and would like to have him checked at the
Deborah Dixon – Cheshire
Aaron James Dixon born on the 23rd September 1987. Aaron was a much longed for child and I loved him beyond words the first moment I saw him. Aaron was such a beautiful, happy and contented baby. He grew into a very handsome, cheeky, fun-loving boy. Aaron was loved by everyone he met and he always
Diane Tolley – Worcestershire
My son Robert died May Day Bank Holiday Monday, 1996. He was a fit, healthy 15 year-old who enjoyed hockey and cricket – and had recently returned from an Outward Bound Course for the second year running (his choice) with school. That afternoon, Robert collapsed and died whilst on a bike ride along the River Severn
Geoff & Linda Goodwin – Gloucester
On Saturday 21st July our eldest son, Tony, contacted us to say that our daughter-in-law, Rachel, had been trying to get us by telephone to say that Ashley had suffered a heart attack and was in Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. It was inexplicable to us at the time, as he had just undertaken rigorous physical exercise as
Hilary Edwards – Somerset
I stumbled on CRY whilst trying to find out just how and why our healthy and happy son died in his sleep. Just 28 years old, with a great job and about to be married, we just couldn’t understand it. Polish police told us he died of “natural causes”. Rob, his twin brother, phoned us on
Ian and Elaine Ward – Derbyshire
It was Friday, 18th December 1992, our last day at school: Neil aged 17 and in Y13, Alistair aged 15 and in Y10, my husband Ian from Sheffield University and myself a teacher but not at the same school as the boys. I’d been so proud that day as I’d taken in some professional photos of
Jackie & Alan Cousins – South Yorkshire
I live in Swinton, near Rotherham, and am now retired and hoping to help CRY as their representative for the South Yorkshire area. In September 2009 we lost our only son, Bruce, suddenly to an undiagnosed heart condition. Bruce was found sitting on his sofa about to start his supper with the TV remote control still
Jenny Boag – London
My darling brother Barry was 28. It was the last game of the season for Rayners Lane FC, the team he had played for since he was 17. The result of the game was not important to league standings, so the Manager changed around a couple of players’ positions. Barry opted to play midfield, rather than
Jenny Thomas – Devon/Cornwall
I was in a deep sleep and somewhere in my dream I could hear a phone ringing. It took a while for me to comprehend it was the bedside phone. The clock on the bed side table said 2:00am. As soon as I picked up the phone I heard my brother’s trembling voice saying “He has
Joseph Tanner – Brighton/Sussex
My name is Joseph Richard Tanner and I’m proud to be a representative for C-R-Y and all the work they do. I hope to further raise awareness for C-R-Y in this role and be an advocate for C-R-Y in this position. I got involved with C-R-Y after suffering a Cardiac arrest in 2008 at the Hastings
Kathy Moyle – Devon (Exeter)
County Representative Sudden cardiac death syndrome has taken three members of my family, who all died from Long Q.T. syndrome. My first daughter, Pauline, died in 1979 aged 16; Rosaleen died in 2002 aged 38 years. Matthew, Rosaleen’s son, died in 2002 aged 17 years. Without the help of CRY we would be left in the
Katy Turberville – Hertfordshire
Our daughter Hannah died suddenly in her sleep in February 2007. She was just 7 years old. Hannah was the twin to Lucy and brother to Oliver. With just 16 months between the births of Oliver and the girls we had had a busy time, but the children were a great team and we were starting
Mallory Brand – London
I’m Mallory, a director at an events agency and live with my boyfriend in South London. I enjoy making home-made pasta, and drinking red wine (as that’s good for your heart, right?), while listening to some 80s music or counting down to Christmas. I was diagnosed with Wolffe-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome when in July 2012 I collapsed
Martin Appleby – West London
When I was a young (20) Insurance Agent, I insured a young girl – single parent. She died suddenly, and the tragedy shook me. I am an old colleague of CRY’s Fundraising Manager, Rebecca Zouvani, and I am relieved to discover that something can be done. At the time, no-one had any idea why the young
Maureen Marshall and Hayley Crosbie (nee Marshall) – Lancashire
My husband John and I had our eldest son, John, in Liverpool and we decided to emigrate to South Africa when John was 3 years of age. After 3 and a half years there, we moved back to Bournemouth and had our daughter Hayley. After 10 wonderful years by the seaside, a big decision in both
Melanie Webster – Suffolk
I became aware of CRY early in 2012 following the sudden death of my daughter Lily. We live in Stowmarket in Suffolk and on 16/01/12 our world changed forever, Lily aged 15 was in the final year of high school when she collapsed during a school trampolining session at the local leisure centre. Despite great efforts
Paddy Jelen – Suffolk
Nina was an apparently healthy girl, happy and well-adjusted. She had had no major illnesses and was quite athletic – swimming and playing soccer for her High School team in the States, where we lived for several years, and playing squash at university. At 4 years old Nina had an unresponsive episode early in the morning.
Paul Clabburn – West London
My name is Paul Clabburn. I live in west London. With my late wife, Claire Prosser, I had two children, Tom and Ellen. Tom was the elder. He was 14 when he died in his sleep on October 5, 2007. He had been healthy. Except he wasn’t. I started writing this on what would have been
Peter & Caroline Gard – Essex
We live in Frinton-on-Sea, on the Essex coast, a place famous for its fish and chip shop and “soon to be” pub! It’s a good place to live for a family of sports lovers such as ourselves, with tennis, squash, golf and cricket clubs all on the doorstep, not to mention a beautiful sandy beach. With
Peter Teale – West Midlands
My name is Peter Teale, I live in Cheslyn Hay near Walsall, West Midlands. Our lives changed forever on the 15 September 2009 – this is the day that my eldest daughter Zoe died suddenly in her sleep. Zoe was only 23 years old when she died. She worked as a fitness instructor and was fit
Rebekah Goddard – Dorset
After almost seventeen years of suffering what I was initially told were ‘panic attacks’, I was finally diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome two months prior to marrying my husband Ian. Seventeen years which were filled with moments of terror for those around me, who were witness to some of the many so called ‘life threatening seizures’
Rishka Romaniszyn – Manchester
John died on his 30th Birthday, 31st May 2009. We met in 2001 and moved in together in 2002. We met in Edinburgh while I was at University and moved to Carlisle then Belfast (where John’s family lived). We had recently got married (in August 2007) and we moved from Belfast to the Orkney Islands in
Ruth Lowe – Lancashire
Two and a half years ago I had never heard of CRY or Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. On 12th April 2004 my only child Andrew died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 21. My Husband Dave and I were away on holiday in Oxford making the most of the Easter break, at the time I
Sandra & Jeff Markham – Middlesex
When in November 2001 our son James collapsed and died outside the family home, we were devastated. How could a seemingly fit and active twenty one year old die without warning? At the time of James’ death Sandra was recovering from a broken leg and our GP made a house call. He thought James may have
Shelagh Green – Lothain
Having been together since meeting at Aberdeen University, James and I finally got round to getting married in November 2001. Six months later James went off to play cricket and didn’t come home. He collapsed during a game and was rushed to nearby Edinburgh Royal Infirmary – when I arrived the medics had been trying to
Sian Donnelly – Bromley
I suppose my ‘story’ starts in 2004. We were a few days in to a family holiday when my fit and healthy 17 year old brother collapsed and died. Following two post mortems (one in Cyprus, and one in the UK) the coroner ruled his death as SADS (sudden adult death syndrome). How can a 17
Sue Dewhirst – Cornwall
I found out about CRY on 20 July 2012, the day after my only son, Matthew, died aged 17½. It was the county coroner who suggested my husband Chris and I Google for ‘Cardiac Risk in the Young’ to find out why our extremely fit boy should suddenly go. I think in the back of our
Sue Fisher – Southampton
I still find it hard to believe that June 28th 2012 was the last day of my then 30 year old son Phil Standing’s life. Phil, always the strong one, the hard worker, the sportsman, the handsome one, the amusing one, the good friend, the man with the twinkling eyes, husband to Kate, father to twin
Suzanne Rowan – West London
My husband, Robert, died suddenly in November 2018 at the age of 28. It was five days after our second wedding anniversary, where Robert had
Tara Challenor – Kent
My name is Tara Challenor and I came into contact with CRY when my sister Therese died in 1997 at the age of 16.
Tim Butt – Essex
“Please feel free to send chocolates and make charitable donations to…” As I lay in ICU moments after waking from an induced coma, these were my words in response to my dad question “what do you want to say on social media about your health, as you have been asleep for 2 days and everyone knows
Tom Ledgard – Buckinghamshire
My brother Kris Ledgard died in October 2012 at home in Milton Keynes having gone to bed one evening and never woke up. At the time he was a strength and conditioning coach with Leicester Riders, an elite level British basketball team. As a young, healthy and active person, his passing was a shock to our family and friends that has left a huge hole in our lives.
Tony & Joan Hillier – Northamptonshire
Our daughter died suddenly in 2003 aged 21 years. It was two years later that we found CRY. Since then we have raised money regularly for Laura’s memorial fund at CRY. Joan has been a CRY Bereavement Supporter since 2006; and Tony has spoken at several annual CRY medical conferences and contributed to the CRY booklets