Published: 14/03/2010 09:00 -
Updated: 11/03/2010 12:10
THE family of Caroline Johnstone, the Bishop’s Stortford sixth-former who died aged just 17, have helped launch a powerful awareness campaign.
A poster-sized version of an emotive postcard – featuring the photo of Caroline and 11 other young people who lost their lives to previously undetected heart conditions – was unveiled by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) on Friday last week.
It highlights shocking statistics which show there are 12 sudden cardiac deaths among young people every week, a 50 per cent rise on previous estimates.
The campaign was developed by the charity in 2004 as a poignant way of publicising the fact that eight young deaths were, at the time, estimated every week.
Over the past five years, some 100,000 postcards have been requested by CRY families to raise awareness and lobby support among MPs.
Caroline, known as Caz, who lived in Chapel Lane, Little Hadham, and was studying for her A-levels at Bishop’s Stortford High School, collapsed as she danced with friends at a Harlow nightclub in June 2008.
Medics resuscitated her but she suffered severe brain damage and her parents, Lesley and Johnny, had to make the decision to turn off her life support.
Although Caroline was born with a hole in her heart and was fitted with a pacemaker at five months, she had been fit and well and her sudden death devastated her family and friends.
With the recorded incidences of sudden cardiac deaths increasing, Alison Cox, founder of CRY, emphasised the importance of heart screening to help prevent such deaths.
“These 12 faces are just a snapshot of the problem,” she said. “We need to keep up the pressure and engage support from as many MPs as possible to ensure we’re doing everything we can to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.”
Hundreds of postcards are being distributed across the region this month and people are being encouraged to send them to their local MP to bolster Parliamentary support for the campaign.
Since Caroline’s death her family, friends and teachers have helped raise thousands of pounds in her memory for CRY. Cazfest, a music festival at Jobbers Wood, on the outskirts of Stortford, drew a crowd of more than 2,000 last summer.
The money raised has gone towards heart screening sessions for Herts schoolchildren. The first takes place at Bishop’s Stortford High School on Saturday, when 120 students aged 16-18 will be tested.
A poster-sized version of an emotive postcard – featuring the photo of Caroline and 11 other young people who lost their lives to previously undetected heart conditions – was unveiled by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) on Friday last week.
It highlights shocking statistics which show there are 12 sudden cardiac deaths among young people every week, a 50 per cent rise on previous estimates.
The campaign was developed by the charity in 2004 as a poignant way of publicising the fact that eight young deaths were, at the time, estimated every week.
Over the past five years, some 100,000 postcards have been requested by CRY families to raise awareness and lobby support among MPs.
Caroline, known as Caz, who lived in Chapel Lane, Little Hadham, and was studying for her A-levels at Bishop’s Stortford High School, collapsed as she danced with friends at a Harlow nightclub in June 2008.
Medics resuscitated her but she suffered severe brain damage and her parents, Lesley and Johnny, had to make the decision to turn off her life support.
Although Caroline was born with a hole in her heart and was fitted with a pacemaker at five months, she had been fit and well and her sudden death devastated her family and friends.
With the recorded incidences of sudden cardiac deaths increasing, Alison Cox, founder of CRY, emphasised the importance of heart screening to help prevent such deaths.
“These 12 faces are just a snapshot of the problem,” she said. “We need to keep up the pressure and engage support from as many MPs as possible to ensure we’re doing everything we can to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.”
Hundreds of postcards are being distributed across the region this month and people are being encouraged to send them to their local MP to bolster Parliamentary support for the campaign.
Since Caroline’s death her family, friends and teachers have helped raise thousands of pounds in her memory for CRY. Cazfest, a music festival at Jobbers Wood, on the outskirts of Stortford, drew a crowd of more than 2,000 last summer.
The money raised has gone towards heart screening sessions for Herts schoolchildren. The first takes place at Bishop’s Stortford High School on Saturday, when 120 students aged 16-18 will be tested.
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