A SURPRISE donation has helped the family of Julian Wort, who died in March 2000 from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), break through their £50,000 fundraising target.
After reading the front page story in the last issue of the Frome Times, that Julian’s parents, Shirley and Dave Wort, were on the cusp of raising £50,000, with a total of £47,497, Kevin Rumming, an old friend of Julian’s, and his wife Laura, made a surprise donation of £2,503.
“We are absolutely elated,” said Shirley, “it was such a surprise. I was in tears on the doorstep, I couldn’t believe it.
“Kev and his family have always remembered us – all Julian’s mates have, they have all kept in touch, it’s lovely. We’ve had a few other donations in response to the story, so with this from Kev and Laura, we are well over the £50,000 now, which is wonderful.”
The money donated by Kevin and Laura will help 50 young people to be screened for hidden heart problems.
“That’s brilliant,” said Kevin about how the donation will be used. “The more screenings the better, and if we can prevent any family going through what Shirley and Dave went through, well that’s a result. It’s a lifesaver without a doubt.”
About why he made the donation, Kevin said, “I saw the story on the front page of the Frome Times – and with Julian’s birthday coming up this month (on 22nd March), I just thought it would be a nice gesture to make the donation to round up the fundraising total to £50,000 – a nice way to remember him by.
“I’ve knew Julian from a young age, we grew up together and shared a lot of the same interests, and spent a lot of time together. It was a shock when he passed away at 28, it was very sad.”
Money raised by the Wort family since Julian’s death in 2000 has been used to purchase and donate two ECG machines and two defibrillators to local hospitals, and organise four Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) heart screening sessions, enabling 369 young people to be screened for hidden heart problems.
Plans for a fifth heart screening session last year in March, which would have marked what would have been Julian’s 50th birthday, were postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is hoped that a date for the rescheduled screening will be available soon.
To donate to the Julian Wort Memorial Fund, please visit: www.c-r-y.org.uk/julian-wort
