A new charity foundation has been established in Dublin to educate parents and sports players about SADS (Sudden Arrythmic Death Syndrome).
The Ciaran Carr Foundation is named after a young Round Towers and Dublin U21 player who lost his life to SADS during an indoor training session in Clondalkin in January 2012.
Ciarán’s parents Philip and Gemma, along with a specially appointed committee, have dedicated the memory of their son to educate players and parents about SADS and to equip those involved with the training and management of teams to deal with incidents related to this condition as they arise.
The importance of defibrillators, CPR and AED will form a central part of the education process the foundation hopes to foster.
The programme will encourage engagement initially with a questionnaire produced by the GAA and focused on players from 16 and up which seeks to identify family history that may lead to an ECG and medical consultation if certain risk factors are present.
The foundation aims to work with UK Charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and the Irish Heart Foundation.
“2012 was obviously a very challenging year for us losing as we did our only child, our son Ciarán in such tragic circumstances,” said Philip Carr at the launch of the foundation in Croke Park.
“If there was any consolation it came in the fact that he died doing what he loved alongside his friends and the support we have received from so many in the period since, has been immense.
“We launch this initiative with the intention of not only honouring Ciarán but in the hope of making a tangible difference by informing people of this condition and also by educating them about how to deal with it should they be faced with this prospect.”
“SADS has had a devastating impact on the sporting fields of this island,” said Dublin GAA football manager Jim Gavin who hails from the same club as Carr.
“The Ciarán Carr Foundation encourages all sports managers and trainers to be become proactive about learning about SADS. It encourages clubs to properly resource their training and playing facilities with the necessary equipment to fight SADS, so when the time comes a life can be saved; not lost.”
This short video of how a defibrillator saved the life of Oliver Plunketts footballer Sheaghan Kearney was produced by the Mater Foundation a couple of years ago and should be required viewing for anyone who questions the absolute necessity of having the right equipment and the right training to deal with a SADS related incident or indeed any heart attack.

In other charity related news, Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium General Manager Philip Peake and a team of volunteers made of doctors, nurses and Tallaght IT students will hold a fundraising night this evening at the Stadium to raise funds for a ten day expedition climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of The National Children’s Hospital Tallaght.

This was the brainchild of the late climber and adventurer, Ian McKeever who was a regular visitor to the hospital and through his enthusiasm and encouragement for this climb has inspired so many volunteers to take part.