Fundraising cyclists honouring a former St Joseph’s College pupil through their quest to raise awareness of Young Sudden Cardiac Death made a poignant visit to the school on Monday.
The David Hill Memorial Fund has raised more than £40,000, which has allowed his family to organise 400 free cardiac screenings. These will take place in Dumfries in May 2024 and April 2025 – and it is hoped Cycle4David will raise the cash for even more screenings.
The 30-year-old collapsed on March 19, 2022 while taking part in a cross party rugby match for Holyrood against Dail and Seanad XV at the Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin, and subsequently died from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.
The fund was set up to support CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
(Image: Les Snowdon)
The charity is calling for the introduction of a national screening programme which could help save the lives of young people aged between 14 and 35 with undiagnosed heart conditions.
Each cardiac screening costs £65 and the fund is looking to raise £6,500. Anyone can donate via Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Cycle4David2024.
In this latest fundraiser, supported by family and friends, David’s dad, Rodger, is cycling from Edinburgh to Dublin carrying the match ball for the next David Hill Memorial Quaich game to be played in Dublin tomorrow – the second anniversary of his son’s unexpected death in the same fixture in 2022.
They’ll compete for the David Hill Memorial Quaich – donated by his family.
Delighted with the warm welcome at St Joseph’s College on Monday, Rodger said: “Since the death of my son, David, our family have been raising awareness of young sudden cardiac death. We cycled through Dumfries and Galloway calling at 11 secondary schools.
“During this time we were accompanied by Gillian Bryson, director of skills, education and learning and Derek Crichton, director of communities.
“Our local MSPs Oliver Mundell, Emma Harper and Colin Smyth were also at some of the schools as we passed through.”
When they arrive at Donnybrook Stadium today, they will be met by delegations from both IRFU and
SRU.
(Image: Les Snowdon)
It has been a busy week for the cyclists who started from Murrayfield in Edinburgh where they were presented with a match ball by former Scotland international Chris Paterson.
They were also accompanied by MSP Alison Johnstone, presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament in cycling to Holyrood – where they were joined by other families affected by YSCD – and through the capital.
David, who played for Dumfries Saints Rugby Club before a career in politics, worked for several MSPs at Holyrood.
He was also one of the founding members of the parliamentary rugby team.
During the week they stopped in at Moffat Academy, Lockerbie Academy, Dumfries High School, St Joseph’s College, Dumfries Academy and the North West Community Campus in Dumfriesshire.
They also visited Dalbeattie Community Campus, Castle Douglas High School, Kirkcudbright Academy, Douglas Ewart High School, New Luce and Stranraer Academy before catching a ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast.
