Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Family set up fund in Ceri’s memory
Tragic student’s legacy will help others
The sudden death of a University of Kent student in her sleep from an undiagnosed heart condition has prompted her family to set up a fund in her memory.
Ceri Palmer-Howells, 22, was recently married and due to graduate with a first class honours degree in drama and theatre studies when she died.
She suffered a mystery cardiac arrest at her home in Canterbury last March, just nine months after her wedding at St Dunstan’s church, where family and friends gathered again for her funeral.
Her parents, Alison and Robert Howells, attended her moving graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral four months later, where they and her husband James Palmer received her posthumously-awarded degree.
Ceri’s head of drama also paid tribute to her, and two friends performed a play of one of her last modules of work, receiving a standing ovation.
A memorial fund for the charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young, has been set up by the family, who live in Cheshire. On Sunday three of her student friends joined her parents and brother Joel on the Heart of London Bridges Walk in aid of the charity.
Emma Purce, Ginia Fletcher and Emily Miles were among almost 2,000 supporters whose route passed by 12 of London’s most famous landmarks, representing the deaths of the 12 apparently fit and healthy young people who die every week in the UK from sudden cardiac death.
Afterwards, her mum Alison said: “The CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk was an extremely moving tribute not only to our daughter, but to all those young people represented by the 2,000 people taking part.
“It is uplifting to think that the funds raised through the walk will help prevent many other young people dying of SADS ( Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome) and avoiding the tragedy we as a family have experienced.”
She added that Ceri had been a member of the City Church in Canterbury and a supporter of homelessness charity Porchlight, and had dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher.
She said: “Ceri’s heart was examined by a specialist following a post-mortem exam, but although they found no obvious defect, we hope it will help in the research into the cause of these cardiac arrests in young people and encourage screening.
“Ceri has left a legacy to help others which is what she would have wanted.”
Anyone who would like to support the family and friends’ fundraising effort can donate via www.justgiving.com/Cerisgirls/ or www.justgiving.com/AlisonHowells1/.
For information about CRY visit www.c-r-y.org.uk