Stanley and Lesley lost their beloved son, Louis, to something so easily preventable and it has left them devastated.

Louis O'Neill, died suddenly and tragically on 3rd June 2020. Like many during the lockdown, Louis was furloughed from work and his lifestyle quickly changed. Told to stay safe and stay indoors' Louis took to his computer where he found comfort chatting to his mates online, watching Netflix, and playing games. Just filling in his time, waiting to return to work. Little did any of his family know that long periods of immobility, including sitting for long periods, was a risk factor for thrombosis.

Louis developed a persistent pain in his leg, with some swelling, but everyone presumed it was a muscular issue.

Sitting for 90 minutes slows the blood flow behind the knee by 50%, so despite being a previously fit and healthy young man who pre-lockdown had played football, coached and visited the gym regularly, Louis was now at risk. If only Louis had stood up and got more exercise this tragedy may well have been prevented, but seated at home, avoiding going out even for walks, became his silent killer.

Louis collapsed in his bedroom and, despite the hard work of three paramedic teams, died on his bedroom floor in the early hours of 3rd June 2020. He was twenty-four years old.

The pain in his leg wasn't muscular it was a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and parts of the clot had broken off and travelled to the lungs where they caused a pulmonary embolism which caused his death. Louis died of venous thromboembolism (VTE). He had no idea that immobility was a risk factor for blood clots, or that persistent pain in the leg could be a warning sign of developing a blood clot.

Louis family started a campaign - #StandUpForLouis - to raise awareness of blood clots especially, but not exclusively, in the young and the fit like him.

Please donate. All money received will support the work of Thrombosis UK to increase awareness, education, and research of blood clots.

For more information about #StandUpForLouis: https://standupforlouis.org

For more information about Thrombosis UK: https://thrombosisuk.org

#STANDUPFORLOUIS DAY SCHOOLS CHALLENGE 2021

#StandUpForLouis Day Schools Challenge 2021 is a national challenge to promote physically active classroom environments, supported by Thrombosis UK, Youth Sport Trust and Schools Active Movement.

Follow the link below for more information - and GET INVOLVED!!

https://standupforlouis.org/standupforlouisday/