Hampshire Player Helps Raise Money for Heart Charity

Sep 4 2013

Hampshire wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Bates has helped raise more than £8,000 for a local heart charity by auctioning a signed Royals shirt at an event at The Ageas Bowl.

Bates, along with nearly 200 other guests, attended the Black Tie Ball at the venue on Saturday 31 August, which was held to raise funds for charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

The event was organised by Graham Hunter and Andy Reed, whose daughter / wife Claire – a former employee of The Ageas Bowl - sadly passed away on 9th March of this year, aged 22, of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. Claire [below] had only been married to husband Andy for five months.

SADS is a condition caused by abnormal heart electrical rhythm and shows no symptoms. It kills at least 12 young people a week in the UK alone.

The Ball was one of a number of events Claire’s family have organised since her death to help raise awareness of SADS locally and, to date, almost £26,000 has been raised – money which will go towards screening of people aged between 14 - 35 locally.

Bates said; “Despite having left the company a few years ago, Claire was a very popular member of staff at the Ageas Bowl and one who is still remembered and missed by many around the ground. What happened to her was tragic and it is shocking that it affects so many people every week in the UK, yet could be largely prevented.

“When I heard Claire’s story and was asked to help support this event, I was only too happy to do so. I hope that in helping to raise awareness of SADS many more people will donate to CRY so that they can increase screening for the disease and save more lives.”

In June, Claire's husband Andy, her Mum, Anne and Dad, Graham and Brother, Peter took the Founder of CRY and their Chief Cardiologist to a meeting with the Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP in Whitehall.  They lobbied him and his team of experts to introduce optional screening of all young people in the UK aged between 14 and 35. In Italy, where they have been screening active young people for 25 years, they have reduced their mortality rate due to SADS by 90%. The family have promised Claire this would be her legacy.

Graham Hunter said; “It was great to have Michael at the event, he was a big crowd puller and boosted the bids for the signed Hampshire Cricket Shirt and other items in our auction, together with other fund raising items on the night that raised so much money for CRY in memory of Claire.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about Claire and the Hunter family’s fundraising activities can do so and donate, at  her JustGiving page.

For more information on the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young, please visit the CRY website.