School backs lifesaving campaign

Harry’s mum Debbie (front) with (from the left) St Luke’s head teacher Ian Walsh, head boy Charlie White, healthy schools co-ordinator Ann Trickett, head girl Lilia Mercado and Harry’s sister Emily

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A CHADDERTON primary school is putting all its efforts into a campaign to help save lives across the region.

Youngsters at St Lukes in Albion Street raised £945 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in memory of a former Oldham teenager who died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition last year.

Harry Dubois (17), who grew up in Thornham, collapsed while watching TV at his home in Altrincham in 2014. His family have since thrown everything into a campaign they have named “1,000 Hearts for Harry”. This aims to raise money to screen a thousand Greater Manchester young people for heart defects every year.

On top of St Luke’s British Heart Foundation Heartstart initiative, which teaches year six pupils how to resuscitate in a cardiac emergency, the school has embraced the cause through deputy head Alison Booth, a friend of Harry’s family.

Children took part in a “superhero” day and family fun run to raise the cash and the school will also be hosting a CRY heart screening for pupils’ families in December. Around 200 14-34 year olds will be checked out for any underlying heart defects which could be potentially fatal.

Head teacher Ian Walsh said: “Harry’s mum, Debbie, came into school to present badges to the children following our Heartstart course and to talk to the youngsters, which gave the children an understanding of how important this campaign is.

“They know that what they learn in school could have a big impact outside and save lives and how important being involved in Heartstart and ‘1,000 Hearts for Harry’ is.”

Debbie — who returned to the school with her daughter Emily (22) to accept a cheque — said since losing Harry they’ve been determined to help ensure others don’t go through the devastation.

She added: “Harry died from a rare condition which he’d probably had since birth, but we weren’t aware of. He had never had any symptoms.”

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/1000heartsforharry. Get more information on CRY at www.c-r-y.org.uk