Tragic Ellesmere parents supporting charity drive with cricket donation
The parents of an Ellesmere teenager who died from a heart condition will present a charity that aims to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths with items of England cricket clothing to auction off.
Oswestry PR firm, The Jools Payne Partnership, has donated the items of England cricket team replica clothing – which includes the kit that bears England batsman James Taylor's unique test player number – to raise funds for local charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
The charity is supported locally by parents of Ellesmere schoolboy, Matthew Dewhirst, who died after collapsing while playing rugby in 2012, aged 17.
He died from Young Sudden Cardiac Death.
The clothing will be auctioned at a CRY charity ball this weekend.
Last month former Shrewsbury and England cricketer James Taylor was forced to retire from his successful cricketing career at the age of 26 after being diagnosed with serious heart condition Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
One of the firm's directors, former Surrey and Gloucestershire cricketer Ian Payne, presented the kit to Matthew's mother, Sue Dewhirst.
Mr Payne said: "We have strong links with the England cricket administration and they are incredibly supportive in giving us official ECB merchandise.
"We in turn, donate items to our favourite local charities.
"Part of the clothing provided this time is replica kit bearing England batsman James Taylor's unique test player number.
"Given James' recent heart defect diagnosis and sad enforced retirement from the professional game, we thought it entirely fitting that we donate his numbered gear to CRY in memory of Matthew.
"We hope they raise a substantial sum for a very worthwhile charity that does great work, especially within the sporting arena."
CRY aims to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research, as well as supporting affected families.
Further information about CRY can be found at c-r-y.org.uk
