Connacht Tribune
Friday 22 June 2012
The girlfriend of a young Gort hurler, who died of a heart attack after a routine training session with his adopted club in London, is running a mini-marathon in his honor – as well as supporting he charity which highlights the dangers of cardiac arrest in those who seem at the peak of their health.
This Sunday, Sheila Forde – along with more than 30 family members and friends – will complete the Galway Bay Seafront Mini Marathon, in aid of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and in memory of Cathal Forde.
Cathal, boyfriend of Sheila, is a native of Gort who died suddenly while training with his local hurling club Kilburn Gales on London on April 10.
The 28 year old from Castletown was rushed by ambulance to Whittington Hospital, Archway, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The former student of GMIT and Edinburgh Napier University had been living in the capital for two-and-a-half years where he worked as a site engineer. Playing at corner back, Forde won a London Senior Hurling title with Kilburn Gaels in 2010, alongside his brother Niall. Cathal is also survived by his father John, mother Eileen and two other brothers Sean and Liam.
Niall himself was told by paramedics that the cause of his brother’s death was probably SADS – or Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
The generally undiagnosed heart condition kills about one person a week in Ireland and high-profile victims include the Tyrone footballer Cormac McAnallen.
“Cathal has left a huge hole in all of our lives since he died, but particularly his girlfriend Sheila, his parents, his brothers and extended family. We wanted to do something to remember Cathal, to raise awareness of the condition, and hopefully raise funding for CRY”, said a friend of Sheila’s – and fellow mini-marathon participant – this week.
CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) is a charity which has been set up by a family who have been affected by sudden death. It aims to offer support and counseling to those who have been affected by a sudden and unexplained cardiac death. It also offers screening for family members.
CRY is not government funded, which makes fundraising vital for the organization to continue offering support and screening.
To sponsor the 10k for CRY go to www.cry.ie, click on donate now and choose ‘2012 Galway Bay Mini Marathon in memory of Cathal Forde’ from the drop down memory.
Sheila Forde (second right) is joined by Nollaig, Roisin, Martha and Sinead Forde as they prepared for the Galway Bay Seanfront Mini Marathon,
in aid of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young in memory of Cathal Forde.
Photo; Sean Lydon.