An exciting charity evening is to take place at Campion School in Hornchurch on 31 October. Harry Cambridge, well-known for his breathtaking celebration of Luther Vandross, is to perform his Luther UK stage show at an event raising money for charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). The event is the brainchild of staff member Lynn Luff who is keen to support the charity, particularly as one of the school’s former students, James Patterson, was a victim of an undiagnosed heart defect.
“Through James’ memorial fund, his family cover the cost of testing every single year at Campion,” she says. “All students are offered a test if they would like one and each test day costs £7,000.” She is keen to encourage parents to attend the event. James’ sister, Catherine Patterson, is trying to gain support from the Campion Old Boys for the event.
CRY was founded in May 1995 to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). As well as campaigning and lobbying and the provision of its subsidised cardiac screening programme for young people (35 and under), the charity also provides counselling and support to bereaved families as well as young individuals who may be diagnosed.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an umbrella term for a number of different heart conditions that affect fit and healthy people, which, if untreated, can result in dramatic collapse and death. In about 1 in 20 cases of sudden cardiac death, no recognised cause can be found – even after post-mortem. This is then called sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). Many experts are now claiming that the actual number of deaths recorded could just be ‘the tip of the iceberg’ with many causes being wrongly recorded at post mortem as asthma, epilepsy or even drowning.
The event is on Friday, 31 October in the Main School Hall at Campion, Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch. Doors open at 7 pm with a support act at 7.30 pm (some of the school’s talented 6th form) and then Luther UK at 8.30 (tbc). Tickets are £25 which includes five raffle tickets. A full bar will be available. All proceeds in aid of the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and the James Patterson Memorial Fund.
Email: [email protected] for tickets.