On Sunday 6th October, the North East gave a typically warm welcome to over 210 charity supporters, who had been affected by a young sudden cardiac death in their family, for the 15th annual CRY Heart of Durham Walk, which to date has raised around £85,000 for Cardiac Risk in the Young since its launch.
Supporters of CRY’s flagship event for the North East set off at 11am, taking a 3.5 mile circular route, starting and finishing at Durham Amateur Rowing Club. The truly inclusive annual event welcomed groups of families and friends walking in memory of 35 different individuals who had died from a sudden cardiac arrest.
And, at the start of the Walk, each of their names was read out, as all participants listened and paid a personal tribute to their loved one – as well as all the 12 young people who die every week in the UK from young sudden cardiac death (YSCD)
CRY was founded in May 1995. As well as campaigning and lobbying and the roll-out of its subsidised, cardiac screening programme for young people (35 and under), the charity also provides a unique bereavement support network and world-leading research and pathology centre.
The inspiring flagship event was first set up by local Durham man, Jeff Morland, in 2010 who has been a loyal fundraiser and ambassador for CRY across many years, following the tragic death of his son, Levon, from a previously undiagnosed heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson White (WPW) in 2002. He was aged just 21.
Throughout the day, the event homepage featured a ‘digital wall’ of photos and short messages, to raise awareness and show the true incidence of YSCD. A tent area at the rowing club provided a space for participants to write a personal message or pin up their “back-sign” to remember those young people who have died suddenly from cardiac arrest.
Every week in the UK, at least 12 young people (that is aged 35 and under) die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. In 80% of these cases, there will have been no warning signs or symptoms, which is why CRY believes that screening is so vitally important. Indeed, CRY’s pioneering screening programme now tests over 27,000 young people aged 14 -35 every year.
Dr Steven Cox, Chief Executive of CRY, comments; “The Heart of Durham Walk has become such a special event in CRY’s calendar – and this year felt particularly poignant as we were joined by a high number of families who were ‘new to CRY’, walking alongside many other bereaved families who had supported this event for several years – some since the Walk’s inception in 2010. We’re all so proud of the way the Durham Walk has continued to grow and gather such powerful support and we look forward to returning to the city in 2025.”
About CRY
- Anyone between the age of 14 and 35 can book an appointment online and register to have a free cardiac investigation overseen by a specialist. As CRY receives no government funding this is only possible because of the incredible support CRY receives from communities throughout the UK to provide this free service to the public. www.testmyheart.org.uk
- The CRY screening team tests elite Olympic athletes, as well as working with a number of professional sporting bodies including the English Institute of Sport, the RFU, RFL, LTA, SKY Cycling, the FA and The English Cricket Board.
- CRY works closely with MPs to improve awareness of sudden cardiac death in young people, leading to CRY’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
- Young Sudden Cardiac Death (YSCD) is an umbrella term for different heart conditions that affect fit and healthy people which, if not treated can result in sudden death
- CRY’s myheart network offers help, support and information to young people who are coping with a diagnosis of a heart condition. www.myheart.org.uk
- CRY has now tested over 275,000 young people, resulting in 100s of potentially life-threatening conditions being identified. The programme (supervised by Professor Sanjay Sharma, the leading Sports Cardiologist in the UK, one of the leading experts YSCD worldwide) is growing annually.