An Ordinary Joe... ...An Extraordinary Legacy Joe Humphries had everything to look forward to in life. Joe was a popular and funny 14-year-old, a bright schoolboy, a treasured family guy and a young and fit sportsman. But one night in October last year those hopes and ambitions and that short life ended - in an instant. Joe had been out for a jog, in preparation for a charity run, in his home village of Rothley in Leicestershire when, without warning or symptoms, he collapsed. His heart had stopped and despite the brave efforts of villagers and paramedics he couldn’t be saved. For his parents Steve and Angela and sister Lauren the knock on the door and the dreadful news that followed minutes afterwards was life-changing. In the coming days they fought to understand what had happened - without Joe their family and their futures would never be the same. In the days that followed, as Steve trawled the internet looking for answers it became clear that they were not alone in their loss. 12 fit and healthy young people die in Britain every week from Sudden Cardiac Death. The majority are the result of undiagnosed arrhythmias - these are irregularities or abnormalities of the heartbeat. Some 80 per cent of people who die do not present any symptom or warnings. The condition known as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome ( SADS), is the adult version of cot death. Stunned by that discovery Steve and Angela decided something must be done. Within hours of the tragedy, there was a groundswell of support from family and friends alike, which has continued to grow, to do everything possible to eradicate, or at very least minimise the loss of young lives in this way. As a direct consequence The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust was created and will work to fund-raise, campaign and educate on all issues of Sudden Cardiac Death in Young People – keeping the memory of Joe alive and using his legacy to prevent other families suffering the same tragic loss. The Trust’s aims are to promote awareness, work towards providing an expert assessment/screening service, provide education and training for young people and those who live and work with young people, work with key partners to get life saving defibrillators installed in key Leicester and Leicestershire communities and inspire young people to fulfil their potential and develop their talents, starting out by establishing an after school Photography Club at De Lisle College. Steve said: “This is also the most fitting tribute we could pay to such a gentle, loveable and humble giant who in his very short life touched the hearts and minds of so many people. Just an ordinary Joe, with an extraordinary talent and ability to reach out to people. A young and much cherished son who lived life to the full”.
“It is very easy to underestimate the value of young life when you have never been directly affected by the loss of a fit, healthy & loveable young person. Sadly we are just one of the many families who have’’ Trust Patron Martin Johnson said: ‘’This campaign has the potential to save the lives of many young people and I’m proud to support it. Cardiac risk, in particular Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), in the young is something that every parent should be aware of. In their very sad loss of Joe, the Humphries family have found amazing strength in launching this Trust in his memory. Its aims and its message are simple and hopefully its results will mean other families might be spared the devastating loss that has touched the lives of Steve, Angela and Lauren.’’ The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust are staging an ‘open day’ event at Rothley Parish Church, Church Street, Rothley LE7 7PD on Saturday 13th April 2013 between 10am – 12 noon, free entry. The event is open to all members of the community to find out more about the Trust’s aims. This will include information from medical experts on sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) and an opportunity to have a go at CPR. Cream tea refreshments will be available on the day. To find out more go to www.jhmt.org.uk or find us on facebook / JHMTorguk or contact tel: 0116 2302390 or 07534293577.
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April / May 2013 - Issue 1