Copyright 2003 Regional Independent Media
The Star (Sheffield)
June 3, 2003
LENGTH: 386 words
HEADLINE: Bereaved mums' campaign success
SOURCE: The Star (Sheffield)
BODY:
MOTHERS Jean Johnson and Julie Carder say they have been overwhelmed by
support after launching an awareness campaign about a heart condition which
killed their sons.
They have both been through the trauma of losing seemingly fit and healthy
sons to the little-known Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).
Jean's son Craig was a 21-year-old student on his way to lectures when he
died in a car park at Sheffield Hallam University.
Julie's son 15-year-old Ryan Bothamley, a promising footballer, collapsed and
died on a bus near to his home in Wickersley, Rotherham.
The mothers got to know each other after their tragic losses, caused by
electrical problems with the heart.
They are determined to prevent other families going through the same tragedy
and organised a sponsored walk on Sunday to raise money to buy a heart monitor
for Wickersley Medical Centre, near where they both live.
Around 100 people, including family, friends and wellwishers, took part in
the eight-mile long sponsored walk around Wentworth.
Jean, of Paddock Drive, Bramley, Rotherham said: When we arrived at the car
park at the start of the walk, seeing all those people coming to support us was
overwhelming.
People have been so kind, we have received many donations and hoped to raise
£3,500 for a heart monitor.
We want more research so that other families do not have got through this. We
want people to be checked out to find out if they're at risk of this, and we
want much more awareness.
Julie, of Wickersley, said: We want to thank everyone for all their support
and getting sponsorship. We want to carry on with fundraising and hopefully buy
monitors for other health centres in the area.
The campaign was given a boost this week when the British Heart Foundation
revealed a new test will help predict who might be at risk from Sudden Adult
Death Syndrome.
The study found a way to assess the risk of SADS by measuring the amount of
electrical disorganisation in the heart.
The discovery means those identified as being at high risk of SADS could be
fitted with a device which could kick-start the heart, and so prevent them
dying.
About one in 500 people in the UK suffers from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
which is one type of SADS and the most common sudden death cause in young
athletes.
LOAD-DATE: June 4, 2003
The Star (Sheffield)
June 3, 2003
LENGTH: 386 words
HEADLINE: Bereaved mums' campaign success
SOURCE: The Star (Sheffield)
BODY:
MOTHERS Jean Johnson and Julie Carder say they have been overwhelmed by
support after launching an awareness campaign about a heart condition which
killed their sons.
They have both been through the trauma of losing seemingly fit and healthy
sons to the little-known Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).
Jean's son Craig was a 21-year-old student on his way to lectures when he
died in a car park at Sheffield Hallam University.
Julie's son 15-year-old Ryan Bothamley, a promising footballer, collapsed and
died on a bus near to his home in Wickersley, Rotherham.
The mothers got to know each other after their tragic losses, caused by
electrical problems with the heart.
They are determined to prevent other families going through the same tragedy
and organised a sponsored walk on Sunday to raise money to buy a heart monitor
for Wickersley Medical Centre, near where they both live.
Around 100 people, including family, friends and wellwishers, took part in
the eight-mile long sponsored walk around Wentworth.
Jean, of Paddock Drive, Bramley, Rotherham said: When we arrived at the car
park at the start of the walk, seeing all those people coming to support us was
overwhelming.
People have been so kind, we have received many donations and hoped to raise
£3,500 for a heart monitor.
We want more research so that other families do not have got through this. We
want people to be checked out to find out if they're at risk of this, and we
want much more awareness.
Julie, of Wickersley, said: We want to thank everyone for all their support
and getting sponsorship. We want to carry on with fundraising and hopefully buy
monitors for other health centres in the area.
The campaign was given a boost this week when the British Heart Foundation
revealed a new test will help predict who might be at risk from Sudden Adult
Death Syndrome.
The study found a way to assess the risk of SADS by measuring the amount of
electrical disorganisation in the heart.
The discovery means those identified as being at high risk of SADS could be
fitted with a device which could kick-start the heart, and so prevent them
dying.
About one in 500 people in the UK suffers from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
which is one type of SADS and the most common sudden death cause in young
athletes.
LOAD-DATE: June 4, 2003
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