Chris’ tragic death has inspired us to save others
ON the tenth anniversary of Chris Haw’s sudden death in Southport, his family has said that they remember him every day.
In a statement, mum and dad Lesley and Steve, plus brother and sister Jack and Jeni, said: “There is not a day goes by when we don’t think about Chris, he was our best friend.
‘‘We also find comfort in the charity founded in his memory www.vsf.org.uk to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and how undiagnosed heart conditions can be detected by a simple, quick and painless ECG screening.”
Chris collapsed on June 3, 2006 from an undiagnosed heart condition aged just 25, at the Lord Street shop, Man To Man, where he worked parttime.
A student at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Chris enjoyed playing football, cricket and listening to live music.
This Friday ( June 3) marks the ten-year anniversary of Chris’ tragic passing, which led his family to raise awareness of undiagnosed heart conditions, and carry out free heart screenings within our local communities.
The Haw family, alongside friend Mark Cunningham, founded the Vital Signs Foundation (VSF) with the aim of delivering community-based free heart screenings across Merseyside and the North West for young people aged 15-35 and detecting undiagnosed heart conditions.
Since being established, VSF has provided over 1,500 heart screenings and found many young people who had undiagnosed heart conditions.
Reflecting on the ten-year anniversary of Chris’ tragic passing, the family said: “He is sorely missed by us all and also by everybody who knew him.
“Something that’s been positive from this terrible tragedy is the charity that’s providing these incredibly important free heart screenings and training in CPR.
“It’s ten years since Chris passed away and his parents Steve and Lesley, sister Jeni and brother Jack, still miss him terribly. That will never ever change.”
In partnership with the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, VSF will be holding another one of their free screenings in memory of Crosby resident Chris Tansey, who passed away aged just 28 last year.
The screening is for anyone aged between 15 and 35 and will be held on Saturday June 25 at the Crosby Lakeside Marina in Crosby.
Taking the lives of more than 12 young people a week, Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) is the silent killer that can have a devastating impact on families affected.
To donate to the Vital Signs Foundation, you can visit their website www.vsf.org.uk or simply text CHAW25 and the amount that you would like to donate to 70070.
For more information about how to book onto the free screening at Crosby Lakeside Marina, visit: www.vsf.org.uk/activity/free- heart- screening- in- memory-of-chris-tansey/