» CRY – Calor’s Corporate Charity
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) was announced as Calor’s new corporate charity as of 1 September 2009.
» Who is CRY?
CRY is a national charity, founded in 1995 to raise awareness of conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS, SADS). Every week 12 apparently fit and healthy young people (under 35) die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions. CRY aims to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death by working with cardiologists and family doctors to establish good practice and appropriate screening facilities to promote and protect the cardiac health of the young.
CRY provides a range of services to support those bereaved by a Young Sudden Cardiac Death (SADS, SDS) and also funds medical research and cardiac screening with the dual aims of raising awareness about the condition, and preventing further young deaths.
- Support for Families – CRY offers help, support and counselling to families where there has been a sudden cardiac death of an apparently fit and healthy young person
- Co-ordinated Fast Track Service For Affected Families - CRY also provides a significant amount of funding to the NHS to help ‘fast-track’ the complex range of services needed following a sudden cardiac death to determine the risk to other family members
- The Surgery Supporters Network - CRY funds a facility where young people who have been diagnosed with a life threatening heart condition can share their experiences and receive counselling, support and help
- Heart Screening – CRY’s screening programme aims to raise awareness that young people with undiagnosed cardiac abnormalities can die suddenly from heart problems
- ECG Testing Programmes – Most cardiac abnormalities can be diagnosed through having an ECG (electrocardiogram) test. CRY holds ECG screening clinics for those aged 14 to 35 at a number of established locations, and runs mobile screening events, in partnership with Phillips, around the UK
- Medical Research – CRY supports research into sudden cardiac death and has contributed to numerous papers, reports, abstracts and conference proceedings authored (or co-authored) by cardiologists, doctors and research fellows working closely with CRY
- 2010 marks the 15th anniversary of CRY. Throughout this year, CRY will also be offering screening to every 14 year old (born in 1995) in the South East.
» Here’s to a fantastic first year!
A big thank you to everyone who has been involved in fundraising activity to support our corporate charity, CRY. We are delighted to announce that over £25,000 was raised during 2010, which brings the total donated since the start of the partnership in September 2009 to a fantastic £55,378.28 .
The last year has seen some fantastic fundraising efforts across the business, from the superb seven who took on the Royal Warrant Holders Association Half Marathon during October, raising over £9,000 in the process, to the now famous ‘Calorettes’, who climbed Snowdon in November with the modest aim of raising £500, but with the girls’ brave efforts and the tenacity of their ‘fund manager’, telemarketing’s Katy Fisher, eventually wound up donating over £1200 to CRY! But raising money needn’t always be quite so strenuous, as staff at North Wales Calor Centre proved with their innovative casino night - a good time was had by all and £674.00 raised for the charity to boot! And then of course there are the quiet heroes like Lesley Ward, featured in last quarter’s issue, who raised £60 in 2010 through her simple but brilliant idea to sell second hand books at Tachbrook Park. Every penny counts, and is gratefully received and put towards CRY’s life-saving work.
The Gift of the Gas cylinder retrieval scheme was another big success last year, with 250 forms returned so thank you to all Calor Centres and dealers who have been supporting the initiative. The scheme continues into 2011 so please do carry on getting the message out there. When returning forms, please make sure all the required information is filled in so we can process it; and, also, include your Calor Centre stamp in the space provided so we know which location the form has come from and give credit where it’s due.
Stephen Rennie comments: “We had a fantastic year in support of CRY during 2010 and I’d like to extend my personal thanks to everyone who made a contribution, no matter how large or small. We remain committed to supporting the charity throughout 2011 and I hope you will all join me in continued efforts to maintain, if not surpass, the same level of support – and hopefully we can all have some fun along the way!”
Once again, we have a programme of events taking place throughout the year – see below for a ‘starter for ten’. If you’re planning an event to raise money for CRY, we may be able to offer you support - please contact Ruth Herd on 01926 318886.
Diary Dates 2011
March
- Reading Half Marathon – 20th
May
- Do It For Charity Super Heroes Run Regents Park – 8th
- BUPA 10k – 30th
July
- London Bridges Walk 17th (TBC)
September
- Women’s Adidas 5k – 4th
- Great North Swim – 4th & 5th
- Great North Run – 18th
- Run to the Beat – 25th
- Do It For Charity Super Heroes Run Manchester – 25th (TBC)
October
- Durham Walk – 8th
- Royal Parks Half Marathon – 9th
- Great South Run – 30th
December
- Do It For Charity Santa Run Greenwich Park – 4th (TBC)
» Gift of the Gas Scheme:
Calor’s Gift of the Gas scheme will run at all Calor Centres and larger Calor dealers throughout 2010. For every unwanted Calor cylinder that is returned to a participating Calor outlet, we will donate £5 to CRY. For more information please contact your local Calor Centre or Calor main dealer.
» A fantastic partnership:
Stephen Rennie, Calor's Managing Director said “The death of any young person is a tragedy but the fact that far too many young fit people die every week through the lack of proper screening programmes must be addressed. We will do whatever we can to support CRY in this important task.”
Alison Cox MBE, CRY’s Founder and Chief Executive said, "Working together with Calor will not only give us the opportunity to further raise awareness of these conditions that have such a devastating impact, but also with their fantastic support to save more young lives. Thank you for choosing CRY and helping us to achieve our goals of reducing the incidence and impact of young sudden cardiac death."
Further information about CRY can be found by visiting www.c-r-y.org.uk
