FIVE-TIMES gold Olympic medal-winner Sir Steven
Redgrave has shown his support to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) by becoming a
patron.
Alison Cox, founder and chief executive of the
Tadworth based charity, was celebrating the high-profile appointment of the
rowing champion this week.
She said: It is fantastic news for CRY. It is a tremendous comfort to parents and families of those who have suffered like Steve
with the loss of someone close.’
Mrs Cox contacted Sir Steve after reading an
article about his life in a national newspaper.
She said: ‘He was talking about a friend of his
who died as a result of a cardiac abnormality.’
Sir Steve said: ‘I am very pleased to be a patron
of CRY having had first hand experience of the impact of such a death. Robert
Hayley was my best friend and crewmate. He was extremely fit and we had just
recently as juniors won a senior race together. We had been watching television.
He suddenly stood up and died of what we were told was a cardiac abnormality. He
was 17. That memory is always with me. Supporting CRY’s work is something I am
delighted to do.’
CRY is a self funding charity that campaigns for
the proactive screening of young people and offers help and support to those
affected by sudden death syndrome.
CRY offers medical information on 11 major causes
of sudden cardiac death.
