A FAMILY from the area are continuing to raise awareness of sudden cardiac conditions.
Rodger and Lesley Hill attended Dumfries Devorgilla Rotary Club recently to discuss the incredible journey they have had since the tragic loss of Rodger’s son, David, on March 19 2022.
David was a passionate rugby fan and player, as well as a political aide. He was taking part in a cross party rugby match for Holyrood at the Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin as part of the Parliamentary Six Nations when he collapsed and subsequently died tragically from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.
Huge awareness has been generated by David’s family in the 20 months since his sudden death and through the efforts of Rodger and Lesley, who live in Dumfries, along with David’s mother Sharon, from Moffat, and siblings, they have raised well over £36,000 in his memory for the David Hill Memorial Fund.
The family has also been working with a cross-party Working Group on Cardiac Health, and has seen 80 out of 129 MSPs so far agreeing to support the ‘parliamentary pledge’ established by CRY with a petition to support a national strategy to prevent young sudden cardiac death.
Their petition can be supported by visiting this website.
Looking ahead to 2024, a charity cycle ride is planned for March to coincide with the David Hill Memorial Quaich. It will see cyclists ride from Edinburgh to Dublin prior to the cross party rugby match in Dublin.
