International Rugby stars unite to run the Bath Half Marathon for Cardiac Risk in the Young

This Sunday at 11.00am, over seventy Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) representatives, including ex-international rugby stars, will be lined up at Great Pulteney Street to run the grueling 13.2 miles of the Bath Half Marathon. A plethora of former star-players such as Simon Halliday, John Inverdale, Will Carling, Peter Winterbottom and Jason Leonard - to name but a few - are braving the course in support of the charity, CRY. Halliday and others have been ardently campaigning for the past year to raise awareness of the need for cardiac screening in young people and sportsmen, in order to prevent the needless deaths of more than 8 young people each week. All can potentially be affected, particularly if there is a history of cardiac problems in a family.

Many of the players will be running in memory of Howard English and his son Sebastian. Howard, a fit and healthy 32 year-old, died suddenly on the rugby pitch; witnessed first-hand by well known sports presenter, John Inverdale. Sebastian, passed away 11 years later, again on the rugby field in similar circumstances. Had Sebastian been referred, following the death of his father, and received the correct screening this tragic loss could have been prevented.

It is estimated that more than 400 apparently healthy young people die annually of a condition which cannot be effectively diagnosed without an electrocardiogram (ECG) screen and referral to a suitably qualified specialist. In other countries, such as Italy, screening is compulsory for all sportsmen. Following the death of a number of footballers, including the Cameroon international Marc-Vivien Foe, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) recently announced that all players taking part in the World Cup, this June, will be screened.

Professor Greg Whyte, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Cardiac Risk in the Young and former Chairman of the British Olympic Association Athletes’ Commission said: “We wish all supporters of CRY taking part in the run our very best and truly appreciate the hard work and dedication from all the team to raise awareness of this worthy cause. Everyone is potentially at risk from the condition and the only accurate means of diagnosis is through an electrocardiogram (ECG).”

The commendable commitment from CRY’s supporters has already seen casualties. Simon Halliday, former England and Bath forward, notes: “Sad to say, some are struggling to be fit and we have one runner who is off due to a stress fracture of the leg. Calf muscles seem to be the main problem for most (Rob Andrew has torn his), other than old age of course.

“Training is in full swing, accompanied by the sound of protesting muscles and heavy breathing. Every time I get beyond 6 miles I pull a muscle (no change there then- sounds just like my rugby career). Mr Carling tells me his limit is 4 miles so far, just as it always was, and Peter Winterbottom says he is down to 18 stone!”

Simon Halliday poignantly concluded: “The number of players who are turning out to run 13 miles when they are in no fit state to do so is a tribute to how strongly we all feel about this cause.”

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