Cardiac Risk in the Young | The Tom Clabburn Memorial Fund

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Posted by PaulClabburn on Jul 21, 2021 in 2021, Awareness, Cardiac Risk in the Young, Uncategorized

Heather’s epic run for Tom and all those like him @CRY_UK

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.”

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!

Posted by PaulClabburn on Jun 28, 2021 in 2021, Cardiac Risk in the Young, CRY London Bridges Walk, Tom Clabburn

A walk of many parts in support of @CRY_UK

Team Tom 14, 2021. — Walkers gathered on Kew Green. Picture by David Bentley.

Team Tom walked for the 14^th 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.

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.

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.”

Posted by PaulClabburn on May 24, 2021 in 2021, Awareness, Cardiac Risk in the Young, CRY London Bridges Walk, Uncategorized

Walk again for @CRY_UK on June 27 #YSCD

CRY Walk 3 en route — En route during last year’s walk.

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 15^th 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.

Posted by PaulClabburn on Nov 27, 2020 in 2020, Cardiac Risk in the Young, CRY screenings, Donations

Tom’s birthday present for @CRY_UK

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.

Thanks again and keep safe.

Paul and Ellen x

Posted by PaulClabburn on Nov 23, 2020 in 2020, Awareness, Cardiac Risk in the Young

Great cake bake for @CRY_UK

CRY great cake bake. — Hayley and Ellen.

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.”

Posted by PaulClabburn on Jun 29, 2020 in 2020, Awareness, Cardiac Risk in the Young, CRY London Bridges Walk

Team Tom XIII walks on for @CRY_UK

Gathering for the walk.

It’s a sobering thought that more than eight thousand 14 to 35-year olds will have died since we first walked with CRY in 2008 to raise awareness of undiagnosed heart conditions in young people and to remember Tom.

This year’s CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk had to be cancelled because of coronavirus and so, like many families across the UK, we held our own socially distanced walk in west London.

Remembering Tom and all those like him at the two-minute silence.

Despite the awful situation the country currently finds itself in, we cannot lose sight of the need to ensure that the 12 young people who CRY say die every week from undiagnosed heart conditions are given the chance of a future.

We’re grateful to those who knew Tom for giving up their time and walking, more than a decade after his passing. It’s something we hugely appreciate. I very much hope we can all gather together again in London for a full-length bridges walk next year.

Another bridge crossed.

Stay safe,

Paul and Ellen x

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