Tom’s Fund has raised more than £75,000 since we began fund-raising in 2008, according to the latest accounts from CRY.
So that’s a whole heap of “thank yous” to everyone who’s run, climbed, sung, hiked, baked or supported us in any way over the years.
The result of your efforts is that since 2009 Tom’s Fund has been able to sponsor the free screenings of more than 1,000 young people aged between 14-35. We’ve already held a day of screenings this year and there are more to come.
It also means that we’re edging closer to our aim of raising £100,000 by the end of 2014 to mark what would have been Tom’s 21st. If we can achieve that, it will guarantee screenings in future years. If you’d like to help, whether as an individual, company or oganisation, please get in touch with us here.
CRY have carried out many tens of thousands of screenings. They say that 1 in 300 young people screened will be found to suffer from a potentially life-threatening condition. A further 1 in 100 will be shown to have a condition that is less serious but which could cause a problem later in life.
A fantastic effort by Chris Cockburn to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising more than £800 and a huge amount of awareness for Tom’s Fund and @CRY_UK
A brilliant effort by Ella Brown and Louise Kirk who sound as if they had a great time running the Bath half-marathon on March 2.
Huge thanks to them both and to everyone who supported them – they’ve raised a tremendous amount of awareness as well as funds.
Ella wrote: “Louise and I took on the mammoth task of running the Bath Half. 13.1 miles was a daunting task having never been regulars at the gym! It was a lot of fun, with a really great atmosphere on the day.
We’re so grateful for all the support we received from friends and family and have managed to raise over a thousand pounds, which was far above our original expectations.
Hopefully in running we managed to raise further awareness for a really fantastic charity and hope the money we have raised will help them continue their great work. We’ve definitely got the running bug now and are hoping to keep on running and raising money – and hopefully we’ve encouraged others to do the same!”
Left-to-right: Sandown Bay Academy students with Claire, Helen and CRY screening manager Tony Hill
More than 200 young people were screened during CRY’s first free heart screenings on the Isle of Wight – thanks in part to Tom’s Fund.
Around 15 of the 210 youngsters screened at the Sandown Bay Academy in Sandown were referred for further tests.
Tom’s Fund and the school shared the cost of the two days on January 28 and 29 and the whole event was organised with the utmost efficiency by Helen Barnes – who is the school’s senior administrator and also Claire’s cousin.
Helen has been fund-raising for CRY and going on the CRY Bridges Walk since Tom’s death.
She said she felt that as a school with an excellent sporting reputation, Sandown would be an ideal venue for a screening event as many of the students take part in physical activity.
Many teenagers looked nervous as they came in but were reassured by CRY’s professional mobile medical team and the word soon spread through the school that there was nothing to be concerned about.
Student Matthew Miselbach, 16, said: “As a keen sportsman I wanted to have the test for peace of mind. I thought it was important to be tested especially as many of the people who die of previously undetected heart problems are usually fit and active. I would encourage as many people as possible to have the test if they get the opportunity.”
CRY Family Screening Manager Tony Hill said: “The Sandown Bay Academy students were very polite, courteous and extremely well behaved. The team were made very welcome and were pleased to have screened so many lovely students.”
Also at the screenings was Andrew Quew, a neighbour of Helen’s, who lost his wife to an undiagnosed heart condition in 2011. He is also fund-raising for CRY and hopes to set up the next set of screenings on the Isle of Wight. We wish him lots of luck in his efforts.
