30 Years Of Cry! Flagship Charity Walk Showcases The ‘steps Taken’ To Help Prevent Sudden Cardiac Death In Young People

On Sunday 22 June, Trinity was proud to attend Cardiac Risk in the Young’s annual Heart of London Bridges Walk (something our team has done without fail since 2007)  – an event that this year saw more than 1000 people congregate in Southwark Park, before setting off on a powerfully poignant walk along the banks of the Thames,  in memory of those young people who had suddenly lost their lives due to a hidden heart condition.

2025 marked the 19^th ‘Bridges Walk’…but also the 30^th anniversary of the charity, which was established by its pioneering founder, Alison Cox MBE in 1995 with a very clear mission of preventing young sudden cardiac deaths (YSCD) through awareness, screening and research, as well as supporting affected families.

Trinity PR has had the immense privilege of working alongside CRY for over two decades – from a fledging charity to the influential and globally recognised organisation it is today. We’ve seen CRY evolve steadily over the years, developing a loud campaigning voice and growing its screening programme to a position where it’s now testing the hearts of around 30,000 young people every year (although with demand at record levels, this is very much the tip of the iceberg….)

However, the CRY Bridges Walk always serves as a reminder of what is at the very heart of this inspirational charity – and that’s its supporters and aptly named “CRY families” all of whom will have lost someone (whether a child, sibling, partner or friend) to a sudden cardiac death.  Their commitment to bring about change through fundraising and awareness and to ensure that no other family has to endure the same devastating grief as they have, is totally humbling.

And it’s a huge honour for us to spend a few hours, every June, meeting, talking to and gently interviewing families who have been affected by young sudden cardiac death and doing what we can to support their brave and determined efforts to raise awareness of CRY’s work, through generating media coverage, in memory of their loved one.

The event – which comprises a 10km course walking across and along the River Thames – was launched with the sole purpose of bringing together bereaved families, united by shared understanding and a recognition of the 12 young people (aged 35 & under) who die every week in the UK from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

Just before the walk commenced at 11am, CRY’s CEO, Dr Steven Cox and the charity’s Consultant Cardiologist, Professor Sanjay Sharma, addressed the crowd from Southwark Park’s iconic bandstand – paying homage to the achievements of CRY’s founder, Alison Cox and the charity’s many, many milestones over the past 30 years.

In the words of Prof Sharma – one of the world’s leading experts in sports cardiology and inherited heart conditions; “CRY created a space for grieving families to be heard and a community where these people can be supported. But together we have also changed the way that experts think about the heart health of young people and we will never stop pushing the boundaries of screening and research.”

Every week in the UK, 12 young (aged 35 and under) young people die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. In 80% of cases of YSCD there will have been no signs or symptoms, which is why CRY believes proactive cardiac screening is so vitally important. To date, CRY has screened over 330,000 young people – at no cost to the individual. And, one in every 300 young people tested by CRY will be identified with a potentially life-threatening condition.

Screening saves lives and CRY wants every young person aged 14-35 to have the opportunity to have their heart tested. For more information or to book an appointment / register interest, go to: www.testyheart.org.uk