FROME couple Shirley and Dave Wort are helping to launch a major regional campaign across the South West to highlight the shocking statistic that 12 young, apparently fit and healthy people are tragically dying every week in the UK from previously undiagnosed heart conditions. An emotive new postcard – featuring the photos of 12 young people from across the region who lost their lives to sudden cardiac death is being unveiled by the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) this month. Shirley and Dave’s Julian, who died suddenly when he was just 28, is one of the young people featured on the postcards.The work of CRY has generated much interest recently in the wake of the sudden collapse of Bolton footballer, Fabrice Muamba. The shocking events on the pitch at White Hart Lane on March 17, has led to even greater calls for cardiac screening in young people (especially those involved in sport) – something that CRY has been campaigning for since its launch in 1995.More than 100,000 postcards are to be distributed by CRY families across the UK in a bid to raise awareness and lobby support amongst MPs.Shirley said, “Julian is featured on this postcard. I’ve booked the information boards in Frome Library from the 23rd April and I shall be putting the postcards in the health centres and offices and various places. This postcard is for raising awareness and getting through to the MPs.”Chief Executive and Founder of the charity, Alison Cox MBE, says; “Our powerful postcard campaign is helping us to emphasise the importance of screening and the fact that so many of these tragic cases affecting fit and healthy young people could have been prevented. 80% of the young people who die from these tragedies have had no symptoms and it is only through screening that the condition can be identified.” “These 12 faces are just a “snap-shot” of the problem and we need to keep up the pressure and engage support from as many MPs as possible to ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.” This month, hundreds of postcards will be distributed by CRY families and supporters to people across the South West urging them to send it back to their local MP. It is hoped the influx of postcards will encourage MPs to add their support to the campaign and join the Cardiac Risk in the Young All Party Parliamentary Group. Alison adds; “We already have huge support from MPs – many of whom have been deeply moved by a death of a young person in their constituency and have pledged to support us in our ongoing work and awareness raising activity. We’re confident that this latest campaign will help us to target those MPs who are not yet aware of our commitment to preventing further needless deaths across their region as well as spreading our important educational messages to parents and young people living across this region. I’m extremely grateful to Shirley and Dave for agreeing to lend their support to this latest campaign in the South West.”
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