15th April 2002
Parliamentary Reception to launch the CRY Centre for Sports Cardiology at the British Olympic Medical Centre
On April 15 CRY held a Parliamentary Reception at The House of Commons to launch their Centre for Sports Cardiology at the British Olympic Medical Centre at Northwick Park Harrow. This is an important new development for the UK – being the first dedicated Centre of Sports Cardiology in the world. The reception was extremely well attended by leading figures in the UK in politics, sport and cardiac medicine.
We aim to establish the CRY Centre for Sports Cardiology as an international leader in its field with the ongoing development of our cardiac screening programme, training of expertise in this specialist area and contribution to research. Available at the reception was CRY’s new booklet – Contribution to Research. This 100 page booklet is the first time we have compiled the published articles, articles “in press” abstracts and conference proceedings to which CRY has contributed.
Public Health Minister Yvette Cooper spoke at the reception and said: “We are keen to support the CRY programme and I am delighted to report that Section 64 funding has been granted to CRY of £100,000 over the next three years for it’s bereavement counselling. This is a very important initiative for CRY. The support which families give each other is crucial at this difficult time. I am pleased to see so many interested people here who want to know about this work.”
Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Dr Liam Fox, said: “I believe this (Centre) is the first of its kind, and needed. I’m delighted to be associated with such a worthy initiative – the area of sudden cardiac death resonates personally with me. I’m very pleased to see so many people here, and it should be viewed as a testament to Alison and all those who work and are part of CRY that the vision of such a Centre has been fulfilled.”
Dr Fox accepted a CNett 2000 24 hour Ambulatory ECG Monitor on behalf of CRY donated by Cardionetics to the Centre of Sports Cardiology.
The Right Honourable Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport said: “We have many excellent facilities and staff in the sports medicine field. This centre will enhance those resources significantly. The work of CRY will save many young lives and that in itself is wonderful news.”
“CRY is a dynamic charity excitingly poised on the threshold of a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to Sports Cardiology and save young lives. We can and must stop these tragedies.”
Ian Botham, Honorary President of the CRY Centre of Sports Cardiology and Patron of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young.
“We have many excellent facilities and staff in the sports medicine field. This centre will enhance those resources significantly. The work of Cardiac Risk in the Young will save many young lives and that in itself is wonderful news.”
Rt Honourable Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport
“CRY’s launch of the Centre of Sports Cardiology is a major step forward in our screening programme. As a non-profit organisation dedicated to saving young lives we view this as an enormous and significant opportunity in the development of Sports Cardiology in the UK.”
Professor Greg Whyte, Chairman of CRY, Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport (EIS)
