Each week, in the UK alone, some 12
young people between the ages of 14 and 35, apparently fit and
healthy, die suddenly of an
unsuspected heart condition, leaving
their loved ones and friends bewildered and devastated. One such loss among
that staggering number is our darling son Gideon, at the age of 33.
Gideon was hugely talented, loving
and lovable. He was fond of swimming, cycling and walking – in the May before
he died he had swum 5 kilometres with a good friend to raise money for the
Marie Curie cancer nurse charity. There was no
history of heart problems. He was an entertaining drinker and a sensible
eater, he was not overweight and he never smoked (beyond the usual college
experiments!).
The charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the
Young) fulfils many important functions: it offers comfort and counselling to bereaved
families; it acts to raise awareness by lobbying parliament and promoting an
all-party group to keep these tragic deaths in the forefront of the minds of
government. It sponsors clinical research through its dedicated units at the Royal Brompton Hospital and St.
George’s Hospital, Tooting.
CRY also supports cardiology screenings
for the age group most affected. Arranged either nationally or by individual
fund-raisers, staffed by medical experts in this highly specialised field,
using equipment provided by CRY, the hope is to identify at an early stage
those at risk and to advise them accordingly.
Author royalties from the sale of
this book are committed to CRY; to raise
money for their essential screening projects and to contribute towards their
core funding. Thank you so much for buying it.
Tony and Suzie Baws
September 2011
Tony and Suzie Baws
September 2011