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Kate and Gerry McCann have donated
£10,000 to a charity to help save the
lives of young people.
The couple from Rothley have given the
cash to the Leicestershire-based charity
The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust.
It was set up in memory of the
14-year-old boy who died from sudden
arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) while
out running near his family home, also
in Rothley, two years ago, in October
2012.
Kate and Gerry handed over the money,
won in a recent libel case from a
national newspaper, at the second annual
SADS Awareness Conference at the Tigers
stadium.
Dr Ffion Davies, medical advisor to the
trust and an emergency doctor at
Leicester’s hospitals, said: “Kate and
Gerry support what the trust is doing.
“They are both doctors and of course
Gerry is a cardiologist.”
She added: “The money is extremely
welcome. It will help us with the
schools programme, delivering CPR
training to students and staff. At the
moment we are heavily reliant on
volunteers.
“It will also help to support the annual
conference and perhaps help us to buy a
defibrillator.”
Last year the conference, organised by
the trust in conjunction with
Leicester’s hospitals, attracted 35
mostly local health professionals.
Numbers were up to around 50 this year
with a number of delegates from outside
Leicestershire.
Dr Davies said: “We teach delegates
about this type of heart disease and how
to go back into the local community and
provide CPR training for schools.
“We are ahead of the game in this
respect.”
The conference, opened with an address
by former rugby international Martin
Johnson, the charity’s patron, was the
culmination of a week of activities,
from October 4-11, to mark national SADS
Awareness Week.
The theme of the week - don’t be
faint-hearted - highlighted how fainting
without warning in otherwise healthy
individuals can be a symptom of an
unexplained heart conditions such as
SADS.
Leicester City, Leicester Tigers and
Leicester Riders have all backed the
campaign.
Demonstrations on life saving skills,
including CPR, were given at half time
at each of their recent matches.
Dr Davies said: “We have reached out to
at least 60,000 people in the last few
days.”
It is estimated that 12 young people,
aged 12-35, die each week from SADS in
Britain.
Steve Humphries, Joe’s father and
chairman of the trust, said: “We are
lifting the lid on these heart diseases
and we are encouraged that key medical
practitioners are taking steps to tackle
this silent killer.”
He added how much the McCann’s donation
meant to him and his wife Angela.
“Both families have gone through the
loss of a child in very different ways.
“Kate and Angela have supported each
other.” |
