Tallaght brothers raise money for heart charity

TWO Tallaght brothers are holding a charity five-a-side soccer tournament this week to raise much-needed funds and to help highlight heart health among young people.

The brothers, Jonathan and Ken Treacy, decided to carry out the charity match for the second time in aid of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) after Jonathan discovered he had Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – a condition that causes the heart muscles to thicken and restrict blood flow.

Jonathan, a former League of Ireland player, fell ill during the 1996 football season.

He said he became progressively unwell during more strenuous games, which prompted him to undergo tests that enabled him to determine his condition.

The condition is a contributing factor to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), which was highlighted recently following the high-profile collapse of footballer Fabrice Muamba.

Speaking about the condition, Jonathan explained:

“I was lucky because the thickness of the muscle in my heart is very small and is in an area that doesn’t directly affect anything.

“I was free to continue my life without any need for intervention but I still need to be monitored every year just to check that nothing has changed. Ken plays top level hockey and the same thing developed at the same age with him but again, he is just monitored every so often.

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The brothers raised e4,000 last year for CRY, but this year they hope to double that amount.

It has been estimated that 60-80 people under 40 years of age die of sudden cardiac death every year in Ireland. The condition may occur due to heart muscle abnormality, which can be inherited.

However, the conditions that cause the defect can be cured if they are detected on time.

The most common treatments for those at risk include expert assessment, access to genetic testing and psychological support and counselling.

The CRY Centre is the only clinic in the country that provides a complete service, and it is free to patients regardless of where they live.

Patients are seen following receipt of a referral letter from their own GP or other consultants.

The event will take place on June 16 at the Astropark, Tallaght. It will feature a BBQ, bouncy castles and face painting. Entry to the tournament costs

?¬125 per team of five to seven players.

The price covers the cost of food and drinks at the barbecue. Anybody interested in donating to CRY can visit www.cry.ie.