On the 8th October there will be a free heart screening to people between the ages of 14-35 at Fleming Park Leisure Centre, provided by the Cardiac Risk In The Young (CRY) charity and organised by Graham and Anne Hunter in memory of their daughter Claire Reed.
Since losing daughter, Claire Reed, suddenly to an undiagnosed heart condition - Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) - in March 2013, Graham and Anne have campaigned for the installation of more locally based and accessible defibrillator machines and also funded cardiac screenings for more than 1,300 young people locally from Claire’s Memorial Fund.
Mims said,
“As an MP and mother of two young girls, I support this National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death to help save the lives of the 12 apparently fit and healthy young people who die suddenly every week in the UK of undiagnosed heart conditions”
“I was introduced to this campaign by my constituents, Graham and Anne Hunter, who lost their daughter Claire at just 22 years old. They campaign and support CRY so they can help prevent this personal tragedy from happening to other parents.”
Dr Steven Cox, CEO of CRY says.
“12 young people dying every WEEK is not a “tiny” issue. This is one of the most common causes of death in young people. Also, it is completely wrong and unacceptable to compare cardiac arrests in seemingly fit and healthy young people to heart attacks in the elderly.”
In 80% of cases of young sudden cardiac death, there will have been no signs or symptoms, which is why CRY believes proactive screening is so vitally important – now testing over 23,000 young people every year.
Mims says,
“I am so proud of all the charitable work Graham and Anne have done in memory of their daughter to provide a safer future for young people in our community. Locally fitted defibrillator machines can provide immediate CPR and drastically improve chances of survival.”
Mims Davies MP during her time as the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh has supported CRY and Wessex heartbeat, including raising money during by competing in the 2017 London Marathon and the Eastleigh 10K.
Full details of the pledge to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death to help save young lives can be found at http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/pledgedownload.pdf. To make a donation directly to the Claire’s Memorial fund you can do so through the website http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/memorial-funds/claire-reed/ or over the phone on 01737 363222