North Launch – 1st May 2014
Families from across the North of England joined together to help launch a major regional campaign to highlight the shocking statistic that 12 young, apparently fit and healthy young people (aged 35 and under) are tragically dying every week in the UK from previously undiagnosed heart conditions.
A poster-sized version of an emotive new postcard – featuring the photos of 12 young people from across the region who lost their lives to sudden cardiac death – was unveiled by CRY at an event held at The Leeds Marriott Hotel on Thursday May 1st 2014.
More than 170,000 postcards have been distributed by CRY families across the UK in a bid to raise awareness and lobby support amongst MPs.
Chief Executive and Founder of the charity, Alison Cox MBE, said; “Since 2004, our powerful postcard campaign has been helping us to emphasise the importance of screening and the fact that so many of these tragic cases affecting fit and healthy young people could have been prevented. However, as the charity enters its 20th year, we have decided that this postcard launch in Leeds will be our last and we want to take the opportunity of publically thanking every family, from every corner of the UK who has agreed to become involved in this campaign over the past 10 years and played such an important part in raising awareness.”
80% of young sudden cardiac deaths will occur with no prior symptoms – which is why CRY believes that screening is so vitally important. CRY’s screening programme now tests around 14,000 young people across the UK every year and one in every 300 of the young people that CRY tests, will be identified with a potentially life threatening condition.
This month, hundreds of postcards will be distributed by CRY families and supporters to people across the North (from Driffield to Doncaster; Leeds to Hornsey) urging them to send it back to their local MP. It is hoped the influx of postcards will encourage MPs to add their support to the campaign and join the Cardiac Risk in the Young All Party Parliamentary Group.
Alison adds; “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 MPs as possible to ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.
“We already have huge support from MPs – many of whom have been deeply moved by a death of a young person in their constituency and have pledged to support us in our ongoing work and awareness raising activity. However, we are confident that this final ‘postcard’ will help us to target those MPs who are not yet aware of our commitment to prevent further needless deaths and encourage them to become involved with us as we embark on our next phase of awareness and campaigning. I’m extremely grateful to all of the families, right across the North of England, for agreeing to lend their support to this very powerful and effective campaign.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange media interview with any of the families please call: THE CRY PRESS OFFICE: JO HUDSON OR HEATHER CHURCHOUSE ON 020 7112 4905 / 0770 948 7959: [email protected]
Other regional launches of the CRY ’12 a week’ postcard
South East – 14th October 2008
Northern Ireland – 20th November 2008
Midlands – 13th March 2009
North West – 6th April 2009
North East – 2nd May 2009
Wales – 12th November 2009
South – 5th March 2010
East – 2nd July 2010
Scotland – 1st December 2011
South West – 20th April 2012
West – 9th May 2013
