A family from Willaston took part in a fundraising walk organised by Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in memory of their daughter.
Alison and Robert Howells, and son Joel, joined the Heart of London Bridges Walk for its ninth year in honour of daughter and sister Ceri, who died suddenly aged just 22.
Ceri (pictured, below) died in her sleep from a previously undiagnosed heart condition in March last year.
She had only been married for nine months to James Palmer, and was due to graduate with a First Class Honours Degree in Drama and Theatre Studies.
The London Bridges Walk is one of the flagship events in the charity’s calendar, raising over £500,000 to date, and this year also marked CRY’s 20th anniversary.
Almost 2,000 people took part, helping to raise awareness and vital funds for the charity.
The “walkers” passed by 12 of London’s most famous landmarks, representing the deaths of the 12 apparently “fit and healthy” young people aged 35 and under, who die every week in the UK from young, sudden, cardiac death (yscd).
CRY Patron, England and Yorkshire cricketer Joe Root, said: “Sadly, I know from a personal perspective the pain and devastation that young sudden cardiac death causes, following the death of my friend Alex Reid in June 2012.
“She was aged just 16.
“I was honoured to have become a Patron and have supported several fundraising events in memory of Alex and, as CRY marks its 20th anniversary this year, I want to do whatever I can to help raise awareness of the crucial work CRY does.”
Alison Cox MBE, chief executive and founder of the charity, added: “This event is always a very emotional and poignant day for everyone at CRY and over the years has become associated with raising awareness and remembering those young people who have died, as much as fundraising.
“It also provides an opportunity for many of our supporters to come together and meet up with other families who are likely to have been through a similar experience to them.
“I never fail to be astonished by the enormous courage our bereaved families have as they determine to work around their own terrible grief to fundraise for CRY, using every possible opportunity to prevent other families from suffering the same tragic experience they have endured.
“We are immensely grateful to the Howells family for signing up to our ‘Bridges Walk’ and know that so many people from their local area were supporting them every step of the way.”
CRY’s pioneering screening programme tests around 17,000 young people every year.
Sponsorship and donations raised from the Bridges Walk will fund CRY’s Research Fellowship Programme.
(pic: Alison, Robert and Joel (three on the right) with Ceri’s friends at CRY walk)
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