SADS Awareness Week takes place from 4 to 10 October and is organised by the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).
The JHMT was set up after the death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries in October 2012. Joe died from SADS while out on a training jog near his home. SADS stands for sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, a collective term for a group of deadly genetic heart conditions which cause a disturbance with the heart rhythm and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Every year during the week of the anniversary of Joe’s untimely death, JHMT hold the annual SADS Awareness Week to remind and educate healthcare professionals, sports-related professionals and parents and carers of young people about the dangers of undiagnosed heart conditions like SADS. Every week in the UK, 12 young people (12-35 years old) die due to undiagnosed genetic heart conditions like SADS.
This year the JHMT SADS awareness week programme will be a hybrid version combining the use of online social media platforms to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death and SADS prevention in the young and the welcome return of the Trust’s community ‘hands-on’ lifesaving training with local sports clubs and groups.
You can also follow SADS Awareness Week events and activities on and .
Posted on Monday 4 October 2021