Ovenu

Family and friends of an Essex woman are appealing for people to help them mark the fifth anniversary of her sudden death from an undiagnosed heart condition by lending their support to a major fundraising event.

Kayleigh Griffiths, from Witham, was apparently fit and healthy when she collapsed by the pool in July 2017 while on holiday in Malaga, Spain.

The 23-year-old suffered two heart attacks within minutes and doctors were unable to save her. A post-mortem revealed that she had an undiagnosed heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The Kayleigh Memorial Fund set up by her parents Leon and Wendy has since raised more than £40,000for national charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which raises awareness of potentially life-threatening cardiac abnormalities in young people.

Her brother Ryan Griffiths is appealing for people to sponsor him or join him in CRY’s 16^th annual Heart of London Bridges Walk on Sunday 26^th June. The 5.5 mile route through central London concludes with a family picnic, entertainment, games, and food stalls.

He said: “It’s the fifth anniversary of losing Kayleigh and so it would be fitting to make a special fundraising effort this year.

“I’m taking part in the Heart of London Bridges Walk with family and friends and it would be fantastic if more people, particularly those who knew Kayleigh, could join us or offer their support through sponsorship.

“It’s really important to identify those young people at risk from cardiac abnormalities and fund the vital research that could prevent another tragedy.”

Ryan, who runs oven valeting service Ovenu Chelmsford, is also raising awareness among his clients and will invite them to donate to the charity.

The fund has previously supplied a defibrillator for Witham Town FC as well as paying for a heart screening session held at the club. Kayleigh, who was a keen footballer growing up, played for both Witham Town Ladies and Silver End Girls. One of its defibrillators was recently used to save a life

Chief Executive of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) Dr Steven Cox said: “On behalf of all of us at CRY, I would like to say a huge “thank you” to Ryan for signing up to our Heart of London Bridges Walk and for everything he’s doing to raise funds and awareness in memory of his sister, Kayleigh.

“I always find it so humbling that despite their own experience, bereaved families feel able to support us - often driven by the will to prevent other parents, siblings, partners and friends from having to endure the same devastating grief as they have.

“Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people in the UK die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. In 80% of these cases, there will have been no signs or symptoms of a heart defect until it is too late, which is why CRY believes screening is so vitally important.

“CRY now tests over 30,000 young people each year, aged between 14 and 35 – and research shows that one in every 300 people we screen will be identified with a potentially life- threatening condition. In addition to our pioneering screening programme, CRY also funds a world-renowned research centre and a unique Bereavement Support network.”

Anyone interested in booking a free screening or finding out more details about an upcoming local event, can do so at www.testmyheart.org.uk. For details on CRY’s Heart of London Walk visit: https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/bridges-walk-2022/

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF OVENU

For further information contact Andrew Douglas 01325 363436

Photo captions

Main Photo: (L-R) Ryan, wife Danielle and son Archie, with Wendy and Leon Griffiths at a previous Heart of London Bridges Walk

Photo 2: Kayleigh Griffiths, who died at the age of 23 from an undiagnosed heart condition while on holiday in Spain

Editors’ Notes:

Ovenu Chelmsford also covers Maldon, Witham, Dunmow, Danbury, Ingatestone, Stock, The Notleys, Tiptree, Tothams, South Woodham Ferres, Wickham Bishops, Burnham-on-Crouch and many surrounding villages and areas in between.

For details call 01245 570005, email or visit chelmsford@ovenu.co.ukhttps://www.ovenu.co.uk/oven_cleaning/chelmsford/

Ovenu is the leading UK and international domestic oven cleaning and valeting specialist. All cleaning products used by Ovenu are environmentally friendly, bio-degradable and conform to the latest government REACH regulations. Ovenu’s Carbon Remover is also approved by the Vitreous Enamel Association. The Ovenu valeting process involves dismantling key components of an oven and placing them into design-registered equipment, which uses non-caustic, non-toxic and biodegradable products to clean the oven parts. Ovenu is a full member of the Approved Franchise Association (AFA.)