The picture of a man from Frome who died of an undetected heart condition features on a postcard aimed at highlighting unexpected cardiac death in young people.
Julian Wort, who died aged just 28, is one of eight victims featured on postcards distributed by the national charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young. Up to eight young people a week die suddenly of undetected heart conditions, although CRY believes this may be a conservative estimate.
Julian’s parents Shirley and David live in Westwood Drive, Frome, and are local organisers of CRY.
All eight of the victims on the postcards come from the Southwest and had no apparent symptoms or history of bad health.
CRY supporters in the Southwest are being sent hundreds of postcards this month. They are being asked to send the cards to their MP’s, urging them to join a campaign to try and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The charity says that simple cardiac screening could prevent many of the tragedies.
Chief executive and founder of the charity, Alison Cox, said that showing some of the faces behind the stories might help people understand the heartbreak caused by this cruel killer.
She warned, “It can happened to anyone at anytime – usually without warning.”
Many, although not all, of the young people affected by Sudden Cardiac Death are struck whilst taking part in competitive sport of physical activity and many famous faces from spot, including CRY president Ian Botham, are backing the campaign.
Veteran tennis stars Mark Cox and Jeremy Bates launched a giant replica of the postcard at the House of Commons this summer.
The CRY summer fun quiz raised £77 for the Julian Wort Memorial Fund.
There were two winning entries with 64 questions correct out of 70, so the first prize was shared between Claire Burge from Frome and Linda Miles from Bristol.
Many thanks to all who bought and entered the quiz, and the various outlets that sold them. Also to Ellenbray for the photocopying.
