May, 2007
Tractors plough across Britain in memory of Laura
The family and friends of an 18-year-old girl who died suddenly the day she got her A level results are staging a cross-Britain vintage tractor rally in her memory.
Laura Hannis, from Cranham, Gloucestershire, died unexpectedly from the heart muscle disease cardiomyopathy while out celebrating her good results with friends five years ago.
Each year since the tragedy, Laura’s parents Steve and Chris Hannis have held a tractor drive around their local roads and raised many thousands of pounds for the Cardiomyopathy Association, a charity that supports affected families.
But this year they decided to hold a bigger event to raise more money and make even more people aware of the condition that kills four young people every week in the UK.
Laura’s father, a 49-year-old firewood merchant, her grandfather Dave, who is 73 and a retired farmer, her uncles Richard Twinning, a 41-year-old builder and Phil Partridge, a 50-year-old agricultural engineer, are among those who will drive four tractors from John O’Groats to Land’s End next month.
They will be joined on the 874 mile rally by family friends Martyn Little, a 51-year-old mechanic, Albert Rixen, a 55-year-old plumber, and John Wilson, 55, a maintenance manager, all from Gloucestershire.
They will be setting out on Saturday, June 9th, and travelling via Dornoch Firth, Glencoe, Stirling, Lockerbie, Kendal, Holmfirth, Shrewsbury, Cranham, Taunton and Perranporth to Lands End on Thursday, June 21st.
The team are getting sponsorship from family, friends and local businesses and planning to collect donations en route.
Laura’s mum said: “Laura was never ill and we were totally unaware she had this heart condition which is often inherited. Her A level results meant she had got a place at Plymouth University to study English, theatre and performing arts and she wanted to become a drama teacher.”
As well as having to deal with her death, the family were told they needed heart checks too. Because the condition often develops in the teenage years, Laura’s two sisters are still having regular checks as a precaution.
Chris said of the rally: “Although we are remembering Laura, the trip is designed to be fun and we hope to raise many hundreds of pounds for the Cardiomyopathy Association.”
The family have chosen tractors for the trip because Laura’s father and other family members and friends are very interested in restoring vintage tractors and taking part in vintage shows. They will be stopping off for a vintage show in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, on Sunday, June 17th.
Laura, a student at Brockworth Enterprise School, Brockworth, died from dilated cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart to enlarge and pump less strongly. But if the condition is diagnosed it can be treated with drugs and surgery, with many of those affected going on to lead long and full lives.
Chris added: “There is a perception that cardiomyopathy is rare but it is not. Experts believe around 1 in 500 people are affected. So we want to make more families aware of it and the fact it can be inherited. Our fundraising will help to improve detection of the illness and help families get better treatment.”
The Cardiomyopathy Association offers information and support to affected families and campaigns for more heart checks and more genetic tests for close relatives to find those at risk and to save lives. It funds a cardiologist at the Heart Hospital in London, and cardiomyopathy nurse specialists in London, Glasgow and Belfast.
For more information about cardiomyopathy, call the Cardiomyopathy Association on free phone 0800 0181 024 or see the website www.cardiomyopathy.org
Ends Note to Editors For more information, please call: Sarah Dennis, Information Manager, Cardiomyopathy Association, 01494 791224
Dedicated to Damian McLoughlin, who died age 20 of cardiomyopathy. This site is supported by Damian's family and friends.
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