Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions. In early June 2022, myself and Graeme King will cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats in 14 days to raise money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Youth) and specifically in memory of Lily Webster.
On 16th January 2012, my friend of over 40 years, Richard Webster, and his wife Melanie, suffered the unimaginable and heart-breaking loss of their daughter Lily at the age of 15. Although I never met Lily, I know that she was loved very much by everyone around her and I remember to this day how devastated I felt, as a Dad to 3 girls myself, when I saw the sad news.

This is Lily's story as written by Richard and Melanie:
We became aware of CRY early in 2012 following the sudden death of Lily. We live in Stowmarket in Suffolk and on 16/01/12 our world changed forever, Lily aged 15 was in the final year of high school when she collapsed during a school trampolining session at the local leisure centre. Despite great efforts made by first aiders and ambulance crews Lily could not be revived and the consultant we saw that day said her death was most likely caused by a brain bleed. The first results we received following the post mortem did not find a cause of death, hearing this news added to our distress and so in the early hours one morning I was looking for information on the internet and found CRY.

I phoned later that day and although it was such a difficult call to make I was given care and advice that helped me and my family ask the right questions of the professionals around us. It allowed me to make sure Lily’s death was assessed by experts subsequently her death was classified as Sudden Adult death syndrome. It also enabled us to arrange screening for my sons then aged 17 and 13, my husband, and I and at this time no conditions have been found.

Lily is greatly missed by family and friends; she was such a beautiful fun loving person that had so much more to do in her life that we continue to do this for her. Lily was so full of life and such an active young person it still seems impossible that she could no longer be with us. Her friends are now making their way in the adult world and I know that they wish she was with them and that are also great supporters of CRY’s work.
I would like to see screening available to all young people and CRY’s commitment to research gives me hope that it will bring the answers needed to stop this tragedy happening to other families
Since its formation in 1995, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has been working to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). CRY supports young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and offers bereavement support to families affected by YSCD. CRY promotes and develops heart screening programmes and funds medical research. CRY publishes and distributes medical information written by leading cardiologists for the general public. CRY funds specialist referral, screening and cardiac pathology services at leading UK hospitals and produce educational materials and work with the NHS to ensure cardiologists have the knowledge and research materials to understand heart conditions in young people. They have funded a specialist pathologist who has advised the NHS and the government to ensure that all unexpected deaths in young people are fully investigated and recorded accurately.

To support both the national charity and to contribute to the efforts Mel and Richard give to their local area and specifically Stowmarket Schools, we will be requesting that any money raised be split with 75% going to the national charity and the other 25% to the Lily Webster Memorial Fund, a ring-fenced Fund within Cardiac Risk in the Young,  that works with CRY to bring heart screening to Suffolk for young people aged between 14 and 35 (https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/lily-webster/).