Team Tom set off for the nineteenth time on Sunday, 28 June, as part of Cardiac Risk in the Young’s annual Heart of London Bridges Walk.
More than 1,100 CRY supporters took part.
Paul Clabburn said: “We had 18 people walking in memory of Tom and Claire, which, after so many years, is amazing. We’re very grateful to each and every one of them for making the effort to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death.”
The event began with speeches by CRY’s chief executive officer, Steve Cox, consultant cardiologist, Professor Sanjay Sharma, and cardiac pathologist, Professor Mary Sheppard.
After a minute’s silence, walkers began the 6.5 mile route, which took in many of London’s famous landmarks.
A magnificent £8,254 was raised for Cardiac Risk in the Young by club captain Tim Dunn’s Charity Am-Am tournament at Worthing Golf Club on Friday, 26 June.
Commenting on a wonderful day’s play and fundraising, Tim said: “My aim is to raise enough funds to hold at least one free heart screening session at the Club for the benefit of our members’ children and grandchildren.”
Tim, who’s been a member at the club for forty-five years, became captain in March and chose CRY as his charity for the year. He thanked all those who had contributed to the day’s success, including the greens staff and catering staff.
Tim’s wife, Hannah, has long supported Tom and Claire’s Fund and CRY. Hannah – Claire and Ellen’s cousin – has previously taken part in a sponsored sky dive and an abseil.
Ellen Clabburn said: “It’s incredibly generous of Tim and Hannah to spend so much time and energy supporting not just CRY but us, too. We cannot thank them enough.
“Worthing Golf Club gave us a really warm welcome and we had a brilliant time, the generosity of all those taking part was incredible.
“I’d particularly like to thank Tim for choosing CRY as his charity and Hannah for all her hard work behind the scenes.
“On the day, Hannah was joined by friends who helped ensure the smooth running of the event and wore CRY T-shirts to raise awareness. Some even took time off work to help out, which typified the spirit of the day.
“We are also extremely grateful to all the main sponsors, KTDA Racing, Colliers Kitchens, CB Training, Aerfin Ltd, Bacon and Co Ltd and H.D. Tribes, and to those who so generously supported individual hole sponsorship, the putting competition, raffle and auction. Thank you, as well, to everyone who donated on the day.”
Tim’s team.Hannah and helpers.Hannah and helpers.Read More
This year sees the twentieth anniversary of Cardiac Risk in the Young’s annual Heart of London Bridges Walk. Team Tom has walked on the last nineteen occasions.
We’ll be doing so again on Sunday 28th June and it’s not too late to join us. You can sign-up here.
When CRY supporters set off on that first walk in the summer of 2007, we weren’t among them. We had no idea that Tom had only a few months left to live.
Sadly, other families continue to experience similar loss. Twelve young people aged 14-35 die each week from undiagnosed heart conditions and there is still no national cardiac screening programme.
However, the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) is currently consulting on whether to change its recommendation, which is not to support heart screening for young people, and is accepting public comments here.
If you could come on the Bridges Walk to raise awareness or send your comments to the NSC, that would greatly appreciated. Thank you.
PS: Our free heart screenings in Ealing in July are fully booked.
Booking for the Cardiac Risk in the Young free heart screenings in Ealing, sponsored by Tom and Claire’s Fund, open tomorrow from 3pm. They will become available here.
The screenings are open to anyone aged 14-35 and will take place at Ealing Trailfinders Sports Club on Sunday, 26th July. Full details are on CRY’s booking page.
Please note that all available appointments are frequently booked up within an hour of opening.
If you have any questions, please contact CRY here. Neither we nor Ealing Trailfinders Sports Club can help with queries.
I’m delighted that Jess Brown-Fuller, my MP in Chichester, has signed CRY’s pledge calling for a national strategy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death among young people. You can read more about CRY’s pledge here.
Jess has also tabled the following written parliamentary questions:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has explored the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electrocardiogram (ECG) diagnostics.”
“To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to cardiac screening for young people.”
It’s terrific that Jess has taken such an interest and it’s much appreciated.
In March, Jess sponsored an Early Day Motion which highlighted the importance of CRY’s recent large-scale study, showing that heart checks save lives, and also of campaigns to raise awareness about cardiac risk in young people.
