LISTEN - Gala ball launched in memory of GAA player who died playing football

by Q Radio News

The family of a GAA player who died suddenly while playing a game of football, says more needs to be done to raise awareness of inherited heart conditions. 

22 year old Kevin King was with friends at Campside outside Derry/Londonderry in 2016 when he collapsed.

The Eglinton man, who has been described as "sports mad", played for his local club St.Mary's, Slaughtmanus. 

After his death, Kevin's parents John and Margaret and brother Martin learned he had arrythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), an inherited heart condition that damages the muscles of the heart and can lead to sudden death.

To raise awareness of the silent killer, family and friends are holding a gala ball called the 'King of Hearts Ball' in Titanic Belfast next year. 

It was launched today by event compere TV sports legend Adrian Logan and Ireland rugby star Stephen Ferris who will speak at the King of Hearts Ball about his sports career.

Both sports figures support the family’s campaign for more research into inherited heart conditions that claim the lives of too many young people in Northern Ireland.

(King of Hearts Ball launch: BHF NI fundraising manager Órla Clarke, Kevin’s brother Dr Martin King, rugby star Stephen Ferris and TV sports star Adrian Logan)

Last year, more than 400 people attended the gala held in the Everglades Hotel in Derry/Londonderry.

Money raised from the event will go to the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHFNI) for research into inherited heart conditions. 

BHF NI estimates that around 17,5000 people in Northern Ireland have a faulty gene which puts them unusually high risk of developing heart disease or dying suddenly at a young age. 

It's estimated that at least one young person (aged under 35) dies every month from an undiagnosed heart condition here. 

So far, the King family and their wider community have raised more than £60,000 for the charity's heart research. 

Kevin's brother Martin says his death was a complete shock to them, however, it's made them want to highlight these heart conditions for other people here: 

The upcoming King of Hearts Ball is taking place on May 4th 2019, two days before what would have been Kevin's birthday: 

Supporting the event, Stephen Ferris said, "I am proud to support the King family in their efforts to fund heart research.

"Knowing that every single month here in Northern Ireland a young person says goodbye to their parents, siblings, husband or wife and then never comes home again is just unthinkable.

“Sudden deaths of young people in sport is a cause close to my own heart so it’s my pleasure to support what will be a fantastic evening.”