Engineering specialists announce year-long charity partnership with CRY

PIONEERING heart charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and technical engineering & construction company, Waterman Aspen have announced a new collaboration, which will see employees strive to raise awareness and funds to help CRY in its ongoing mission to prevent the tragedy of Young Sudden Cardiac Death (YSCD). 

Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people in the UK die suddenly from a ‘hidden’ heart defect. In 80% of these cases, there will have been no warning signs or symptoms until it is too late, which is why CRY believes screening is so vitally important (particularly for those involved in sport and regular, physical activity, which can increase a young person’s risk if they have an underlying condition).

CRY now tests the hearts of almost 30,000 young people each year, aged between 14 and 35 (and over 315,000 since the screening programme was launched in 1995). The vast majority of CRY’s screenings are funded by families who have been affected by a young sudden cardiac death so there is no charge to the individual when CRY’s mobile cardiac screening service comes to a local venue (community settings such as schools, colleges, church halls and sports clubs). And, on two Saturdays every month, around 100 young people can also be screened for free at CRY’s National Screening Centre in Surrey (also, often funded in memory of a young person.)

Hayley Sharp, Marketing and Communications Director at Waterman Aspen commented:

“Each year, we’re encouraged to nominate organisations as ‘Charity of the Year’, providing a focus for our fundraising efforts, for the next 12 months. I’d nominated CRY, so was therefore very excited when it was selected as Waterman Aspen’s charity of the year for 2025 – which also coincides with CRY’s 30th anniversary year, so it feels a very fitting collaboration.

“We have lots of fundraising ideas to support this extremely worthy cause and are looking forward to getting involved in raising as much money as we can!

“On a personal level, I’ve been aware of CRY and the impact of its work for more than 10 years, since the sudden and devastating death of my younger cousin, Alexandra, who died in her sleep from a previously undiagnosed heart condition in June 2012, aged just 16.

“I saw first-hand just how much the charity supported my family through this tragedy and the incredible work it does to help prevent the incidence of young sudden cardiac death, through screening and research. We got off to an enthusiastic and early start during December and have already raised over £8,000 from our festive parties, which is an amazing way to kick off the campaign. We’re all so pleased by the level of support so far!”

CRY’s screening programme uses a simple, non-invasive and cost-effective way of diagnosing most cardiac abnormalities – a procedure called an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is reviewed by a specially trained medic. If a young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will swiftly refer them for an Echocardiogram screen (ultrasound) and if necessary, more in-depth investigations via CRY’s Consultant Cardiologist, Professor Sanjay Sharma and his expert team at St George’s Hospital, SW London or to a specialist centre for Inherited Cardiac Conditions (ICC) in their local areas.

Dr Steven Cox, CRY’s Chief Executive, said:

“I’d like to thank everyone at Waterman Aspen for pledging to support CRY in 2025. Our services receive no government support and therefore it’s only due to the fundraising efforts of families, communities and businesses, that we’re able to deliver screening to young people across the UK at no cost to any individual who wishes to have their heart tested.

“Research saves lives too, so every penny counts towards maintaining our internationally acclaimed research programme and the ongoing training of cardiologists, who will become experts in the detection and treatment of the conditions that can cause a sudden cardiac arrest in a young person.

“Fundraising and corporate donations also mean we can provide CRY’s specialist, ‘peer-to-peer’ bereavement network – an invaluable lifeline for many families and friends facing such unimaginable and devastating grief. So, thank you again, Waterman Aspen – your support is hugely appreciated.”

For more information about CRY please go to: www.c-r-y.org.uk.