A group of Renfrewshire parents and friends have joined up to…CRY.
'Cardiac Risk in the Young; was formed in May 1995 to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death after it was revealed that eight apparently healthy young people in the UK every WEEK, from undiagnosed heart conditions.
The group, which is growing rapidly, works with medical staff to promote and protect the cardiac health of young people by establishing good practice and screening facilities to try to drastically reduce this number.
They have enlisted the support of sporting personalities including Ian Botham as president, Sir Steve Redgrave as a patron and Little Britain star, David Walliams, also as a patron.
He said: "I am very pleased to have become a patron of CRY as the charity does amazing work in raising awareness of cardiac risk in the young."
Other famous people who have become patrons of CRY include Scottish Rugby star, Gregor Townsend and fellow sportsmen Rob Andrew, Jeremy Bates and pundit John Inverdale.
Alison Cox started CRY from her own home but thanks to the incredible efforts they have now moved into a warehouse unit on a small industrial estate.
They have steadily developed and are now looking for opportunities to expand further and make the organisation nationwide, with locally based volunteers and staff.
Divisional representative for Scotland is Andy Tait, whose policeman son Andrew, tragically died at 26 from heart failure after being married for only five months.
He said: "On the evening before he died, Andrew had enjoyed a night out with his wife and some friends but on getting home experienced a 'racing heart' but otherwise felt alright – he went to bed and died in his sleep.
"The pathologist indicated a left ventricle failure but subsequent results did not reveal the actual cause and was recorded as Sudden Death Syndrome."
Mr Tait revealed that he then heard about CRY through a family friend who was a GP and began learning a lot about the causes of heart disease and the aims of CRY.
The frantic father began to worry about the possibility of his daughter Lisa, 24, having the same defect and she was examined by a doctor in the Royal Infirmary who gave her the all clear.
He said: "It is abundantly clear that to have young people screened by way of ECG before they leave high school is an excellent way in which to detect any form of heart defect.
"Had such a procedure been available in Andrew's case I have no doubt that he would have still been here today."
CRY has set up an all parliamentary pressure group to raise the profile of the cause in Westminster and have also been responsible for the establishment of the CRY Centre of Sports Cardiology, based at the Olympic Medical Centre in England.
They are also in the process of funding mobile screening units, medical equipment, research into sudden cardiac death and counsel and support for families affected.
If you would like to talk to a bereavement supporter or a CRY representative call 01737 3653 222 or email
[email protected]. Donations and offers of voluntary help are always welcome.
