Shinrone mother's fundraising help plea

A Shinrone mother is hoping her story will prompt Flora Women’s Mini Marathon participants to walk or run the course on June 2 for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) Ireland.

Just over two years ago Sally Carney lost her then 29-year-old daughter Debbie to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).

Since Debbie passed away Sally has raised more than €36,000 for CRY Ireland. She’s hoping that with help from others even more can be raised for the charity that is this year focused on fundraising for a screening centre at Tallaght hospital, but which also raises awareness of sudden cardiac death and provides counselling for people affected by SADS.

It was January 11, 2012 when Debbie passed away. Working for Ryanair, Debbie was based in Stanstead and had lived in London for six years. On the tragic day Debbie called her mum to say she was in pain.

“At first I didn’t think too much as Debbie always thought the worst when something happened to her medically,” Sally, who is also mum to 33-year-old David and 28-year-old Daryl, remembers.

After advising her daughter to call a cardiac ambulance, Sally contacted Debbie’s friend Sian, who immediately went round to her friend’s house. By then paramedics had arrived. However in the middle of telling paramedics how much pain she was in, Debbie closed her eyes, lost consciousness and later died.

Two years later Sally still finds it difficult to talk about her daughter’s death. She hasn’t let that get in the way of her efforts to fundraise however. “Any awareness we can get out there is worth it,” she said.

Anyone interested in taking part in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon for CRY Ireland can contact the charity at 01 4525482 or info@cry.ie.