Tragic stories of a teenage footballer and a dance-loving schoolgirl who both died from heart attacks are being used to help save other young lives.
Six young people from Greater Manchester will feature in a campaign to raise awareness of a 50 per cent rise in sudden deaths from cardiac trauma in the under-35s since 2006.
The parents of Daniel Young, 16, who collapsed with a heart attack while playing football for Bolton-based Atherton Laburnum Rovers, have backed the campaign.
So have the parents of Amy Williams, 11, from Salford, who died in her sleep. Amy’s father, David, said his daughter had no history of medical problems.
Daniel’s parents, Craig and Dionne Young, attended the launch of the postcard campaign by charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and have worked ‘tirelessly’ to raise awareness of screening for heart disease.
Twelve lives a week are lost in the region because of the condition.
A screening clinic was also opened during the event at Liverpool’s John Moores University by Sport Secretary and Leigh MP Andy Burnham.
Dionne Young said: “Daniel scored a goal, turned around to celebrate and collapsed.
“We want as many people as possible to know about CRY. The screening costs just £35.”
