Sheffield Wednesday fans have helped raise more than £1600 for a charity that aims to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac deaths and raise the awareness of cardiac risk in people aged 35 and under.
The organisation, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) was Saturday’s matchday charity partner and through the help of the club and fans managed to raise £1610 from bucket collections and Just Giving donations.
Lifelong Owls supporter Kyle Hancock was aged just 18 when he suffered sudden heart arrythmia in his sleep. Tragically, Kyle passed away whilst sleeping that night after never experiencing any kind of previous heart or health conditions in his short life.
Kyle’s father, Ian Hancock, who is involved with CRY said: “I am so overwhelmed with the donations and we are so happy with how the day went. It was just fantastic to see the club, players from both teams and fans get behind the organisation.
“Like others, Kyle had nothing to suggest throughout his life that he needed to be screened for cardiac health. By raising awareness it may save someone’s life and prevent other families having to endure what we have had to go through."
Ian added: “Once again many, many thanks to everyone at Sheffield Wednesday for all your help and assistance.”
Every week in the UK, 12 young people (aged 35 and under) die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Eighty per cent of these people have no signs or symptoms and so the only way to detect a potentially sinister cardiac abnormality is by having a CRY screening test.
To show their support to the charity, players from both Sheffield Wednesday and Watford wore specially made t-shirts during warm-up to increase awareness.
To donate to the Kyle Hancock memorial fund with CRY go to www.justgiving.com and type in Kyle Hancock or text KHSW93 to 70070.
To find out about CRY screening tests and how to support the organisation visit: www.c.r.y.org.uk