Stephen’s fund nears the £70,000 mark
THE money keeps mounting up in memory of Portadown teenager Stephen Lyness who died suddenly in his sleep in December 2004 from the condition SADS (Sudden Arrythmia Death Syndrome).
Stephen was found dead in bed on the morning of his 18th birthday and since then the family, with the help of the local community and the business world, has raised almost £70,000 for equipment and research connected with the mystery condition which has claimed the lives of several young people, predominately seemingly fit young sportsmen.
Stephen, from The Beeches off the Garvaghy Road, was just such a young man, playing GAA for Tir na nOg and football for various junior teams, and the family was devastated by his death - his mother Catherine, father Geoffrey and sisters Natalie and Jenny.
Every year, they hand over a generous cheque to the London Heart Hospital for research, and recently Natalie and Jenny presented £5,000 to researcher Dr Pier Lambiase and specialist nurse Eileen Firman at the hospital.
PROJECTS
The total was boosted by the annual cycle along Newry Canal towpath, by Catherine running the recent Dublin marathon - she was accompanied by brother-in-law Patrick Lyness and raised £1,500 - and there were various other projects like the perennial collecting box in the local Costcutters Supermarket.
Two special events took place recently, with Tir na nOg and the local St John the Baptist Primary School presenting cheques for £500 and £700 respectively.
Tir na nOg held a special X Factor series, a four-week series where local singers strutted their stuff in front of the judges and the winner emerged in the form of Cathal Mercer who wooed the audience, and the judges.
And a special fund-raiser at St John’s, where Stephen started his education, realised a superb £700. “We’re delighted with it all,” said Mrs Lyness.
The family has also financed three defibrilators for local sporting organisations, and special training has been given.
PRIME
The fund-raising will continue and the hope is that research will lead to the cause of the mysterious death of young people like Stephen Lyness who was taken away at the prime of his life.
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Weather for Portadown
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
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