Left to right: Ellen with Trailfinders Operations Manager Reuben Hill, Trailfinders youth rugby chair Phil Regan and members of the CRY screening team.
More than 80 young people had their hearts tested by CRY on Sunday at the first Tom and Claire’s Fund free screenings since 2019.
CRY had to halt all screenings during lockdown and has only recently restarted. Numbers attending were limited because of COVID restrictions but CRY were able to screen 83 people aged between 14-35. Five people were referred for further tests.
The event took place at a new location for us, the Olympic Pavilion at Trailfinders Sports Club in Vallis Way, Ealing.
Paul Clabburn said: “We really appreciate the effort Trailfinders put into hosting the event. Operations manager Reuben Hill was instrumental in making the day happen, from initially showing us around the facilities to making sure that everything was in order on the day. Trailfinders are a community focussed club and we hope this will be the first of many screening events we hold with them.
“We are also extremely grateful to the brilliant CRY team who were as friendly and professional as ever and managed to screen far more people than we expected. We also want to thank anyone who has donated to our Fund. None of this could happen without people putting their hands in their pockets.”
Members of the CRY team inside Trailfinders Olympic Pavilion.
On the eve of the anniversary of Tom’s death aged 14 from an undiagnosed heart condition, we are delighted to say that free Cardiac Risk in the Young screenings , sponsored by Tom and Claire’s Fund, will begin again in Ealing.
We are at a new venue, Trailfinders Sports Club, and the heart screenings will take place on Sunday, November 7. They are open to all aged between 14-35. If you have any questions, please contact CRY, not the club.
Paul Clabburn said: “The screenings are a vital part of Tom’s legacy and we are so pleased that they can restart after being halted by the pandemic. We are incredibly grateful to Trailfinders for making their facilities available and to all those who have continued to donate to the Fund. We couldn’t do it without you.”
Gathering at the start of the 2021 Andrew Carter Memorial Mile.
The Andrew Carter Memorial Mile took place on Saturday, September 4, for the first time since lock-down and raised more than £900 for Tom and Claire’s Fund and Cardiac Risk in the Young.
About sixty runners took part in the event, commemorating Andrew’s life, in Lammas Park, Ealing. Andrew collapsed from a cardiac arrest during the Ealing Half Marathon and died on October 1, 2014.
Sandra Courtney, one of the Ealing Half Marathon organisers, said: “It was a lovely day. Colin, Joyce and James, Andrew’s parents and brother, were with us again along with more family, his friends and colleagues from AIB Bank and lots more runners who just wanted to support a great cause.”
The money raised supports heart screenings in Ealing sponsored by Tom and Claire’s Fund.
Paul Clabburn said: “We are enormously grateful to all those who ran and donated and to Andrew’s parents and family. They have raised thousands of pounds over the years and played a huge part in ensuring that free heart screenings for young people can take place in Ealing.
“We have been told by CRY that screenings can start again this year, after being halted for the pandemic, and we are planning for an event to be held on November 7. Details will be published on this site nearer the time. Anyone aged 14-35 can apply.”
Heather Reid is a remarkable woman who has set herself an extraordinary challenge – to run 624 miles in tribute to all the young people who CRY say die suddenly from a ‘hidden’ heart condition every year in the UK.
Having lost her own 16-year-old daughter, Alex, in 2012, Heather has dedicated each mile of the final 120 miles to an individual who has died too soon. On Monday July 19, at our request, Heather ran in memory of Tom.
Heather said: “It was a privilege to run a mile in honour of Tom. Early on Monday morning I went for a very hot but beautiful run along the Chesterfield canal. It was a gorgeous morning and the birds were singing in full voice.
“The top photograph is where I paused after I had completed Tom’s mile in memory. It is Oneslide lock between a hamlet called Turner Wood and Shireoaks.
“It was so peaceful and a perfect place to take a few moments to think about Tom and also you, your family and friends.
“Throughout this year long challenge I have watched the seasons change. I have watched the trees turn, drop and become renewed again. I have observed this family of ducks hatch and grow.”
Picture by Heather Reid.
Later, Heather explained that she was approaching her penultimate week and added: “I can’t believe I am almost there now.”
Heather is from Thorpe Salvin, a village close to Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Since her daughter’s death, she and her husband John – supported by friends, family, the local community and Alex’s school and sporting friends – have raised awareness of young sudden cardiac death and the importance of screening and research.
We’re grateful beyond words that Heather included Tom in her endeavour and look forward to reading that she has successfully completed her trek. Bon voyage, Heather!
Walkers gathered on Kew Green. Picture by David Bentley.
Team Tom walked for the 14th time in support of Cardiac Risk in the Young on Sunday. Unusually, the walk took place both inside, outside and at three different locations.
The main group took a circular route via Kew and Chiswick Bridges. Those taking part included primary school classmates of Tom. Before setting out, a minute’s silence was held for Tom and all those like him. We also remembered Gottfried Panzer, who died recently.
Gottfried, who gave Tom his first Saturday job, was a staunch supporter of CRY. He and family have taken part in countless CRY Heart of London Bridges walks. This year, Gottfried’s wife, Linda, and one of their daughter’s, Ali, did their own walk in Surrey.
Ali: Stepping out.
With several of those who had planned to take part having to isolate in compliance with COVID guidelines, Lisa Neaverson still did her utmost to join in the spirt of the occasion, climbing the stairs at her home 140 times.
Lisa: Stepping up
Ellen Clabburn said: “We are extremely grateful, as ever, to all those who took part. It is amazing how many people give up time to highlight that we are still losing 12 young people aged under 35 every week to undiagnosed heart conditions. Thank you, too, to those who donated on the day. We hope to have news soon about a possible resumption of screening in the Ealing area.”
We’ll be walking in memory of Tom and all those like him on Sunday, June 27.
We will set out in support of Cardiac Risk in the Young at 1100 from Kew Green. We’ll take a circular route via Chiswick and Kew Bridges, finishing back at Kew Green. It’s about three miles and takes an hour or so to complete.
While ensuring we are compliant with whatever COVID regulations are in place at the time, we’d love as many people as possible to join us. Let us know you’re coming by emailing thetomclabburnfund@gmail.com or by leaving a message on our Facebook page.
It’s the second year in succession, CRY has had to cancel its Heart of London Bridges Walk because of uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic. CRY says: “We can’t wait to (virtually) walk with you this year. On 27th June, join us from wherever you are in the UK.” It’s the 15th year the walk has taken place.
If you want to register, do so here. You don’t have to but it gets you a T-shirt. Like many charities, CRY has struggled during COVID and needs to raise its profile again. A proudly worn tee will help to do just that.
If anyone needed reminding about the value of CRY’s work, a recent documentary on the BBC, “Sudden Adult Death: My Sister’s Silent Killer”, highlights the importance. It follows a brother’s search for answers after losing his 19-year-old sister to an undiagnosed heart condition. We’d urge anyone to watch but, be warned, the first couple of minutes, which replay the recorded call to emergency services, are particularly hard. It’s available on BBC iPlayer.
Today should have been Tom’s 28th birthday. We thought it would be good to mark the occasion with some positive news.
With CRY’s screening programme temporarily on hold, we’ve decided to support a project – a database – that the charity says will take its research programme to the next level and enable it to screen even more young people in the future.
Dr Steven Cox, CRY’s Chief Executive said: “Thank you to everyone who is supporting CRY in memory of Tom and Claire. This new research database is so important and we greatly appreciate the incredible support from Tom and Claire’s Memorial Fund to enable us to take this forward.”
Steve explained that due to the rapid expansion of CRY’s research and screening programmes, the charity needs a bespoke database to allow it to develop its vital work.
He said: “This will be a cloud-based system enabling CRY to build on the success of our screening and research programmes and develop worldwide collaborations between international partners.
“This is one of the most important projects that CRY needs to invest into in order to take our research programme to the next level. The new database will have a huge impact on the cost-effectiveness of our programmes. This system will enable CRY to screen even more young people, meaning we will identify more people with cardiac conditions and save more young lives.”
The database will cost in the region of £60,000. Tom and Claire’s Fund will pay fifty per cent towards the cost or £30,000, whichever is the greater.
Like Steve, we can only say “thank you” to everyone. Without people continuing to raise money for Tom and Claire’s Fund, we couldn’t help CRY in this way. As with every other charity, CRY faces challenges because of the pandemic and so, while we can’t screen, we thought it better to do something with the funds rather than leave them in a bank account.
We will be back screening in west London as soon as conditions allow. We have dates pencilled in for next year, 2022 and 2023.
CRY’s annual Great Cake Bake took place against the background of COVID restrictions.
Ellen Clabburn said: “Hayley and I decided to bake something to mark CRY’s raising awareness week (16-22 November) and the CRY Great Bake.
“Although fundraising is more of a challenge during lockdown, we can still raise awareness via social media.
“We feel that, without screenings this year, it is more important than ever to raise awareness of the 12 young people who die each week from undiagnosed heart conditions.”
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy
