Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We’re running to stop others suffering like us
Family raising money for heart research after tragedy
it looks likely that’s what it was. Joe was always giving back and we want to give back too. That’s why this year we are running the Belfast Marathon in his memory for BHF.
“Firstly because of the support from Tracy and also to fund research into Long QT and other conditions that take the lives of young people.”
Every month in Northern Ireland at least one young person dies from an undiagnosed heart condition.
BHF Northern Ireland estimates around 17,500 people here have a faulty gene that puts them at high risk of a fatal heart attack at a young age.
Joe Snr added: “We have been training hard and are delighted 10 of us are taking part in relay teams and there are two more doing the full marathon for Joe.
“Knowing the money will go into research in Long QT and other heart conditions that take our young people is brilliant,” added Joe Senior.
“We want to thank all our family and friends for their support and we’re looking forward to crossing that line.” Karen Mccammon, specialist heart nurse in BHF NI, said: “We want to thank the Burns family and all their family and friends for their generosity.
“One young person in Northern Ireland dies every month from a heart condition they didn’t know they had. “That’s every single month another family is facing the shock and devastation of losing a son, daughter, husband or wife. It tears people like Joe away from their families when he had so much to live for.
“Thanks to the public’s kind support, Bhf-funded researchers have made major discoveries in these frightening heart conditions but we urgently need to fund more research to better understand these heart conditions, make more discoveries, develop new treatments and save more lives.”