LEICESTERSHIRE'S biggest sports clubs are uniting to back SADS Awareness Week 2014.

The week, which is organised by local charity the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), runs from 4-11 October and aims to raise awareness of potentially fatal, undiagnosed heart conditions in young people such as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).

Running for a second year this year, SADS Awareness Week is being backed by the Leicester Tigers, Leicester City Football Club and Leicester Riders.

At half-time during the Leicester v Burnley match on Saturday 4October, club ambassador Alan Birchenall will introduce a demonstration of vital lifesaving skills such as CPR, with Leicestershire Heartsafe's UK Project Director Dr Doug Skehan explaining why it's so vital that more people know what to do if someone collapses suddenly.

The demonstration will also take place at half-time during the Tigers v Quins match on Friday 10 October, and when Leicester Riders play Surrey United at Loughborough University on Saturday 11 October.

JHMT patron and former England, Leicester Tigers and British and Irish Lions rugby captain Martin Johnson said: "It's fantastic news that these three clubs are united in a common aim – to break the silence on SADS.

"For too long, sudden heart deaths – especially in young, fit and otherwise healthy young people – have gone undetected and hidden from view. SADS Awareness Week is our way of telling everyone what they need to know about sudden heart deaths and how, with a few simple steps, we can help to prevent them.

"If there's one way to break the silence on SADS, it's with a Tigers roar – particularly when backed by football and basketball fans too."

LCFC club ambassador Alan Birchenall said: "Every young life lost to SADS is a life too many, so it's vital that we raise as much awareness as possible to break the silence. SADS Awareness Week is a great way to bring it into the public eye.

"Young people feel like they're invincible, it's one of the wonderful things about youth, but everyone should be aware of the dangers of SADS because noticing the warning signs could make all the difference in saving a life."

Russell Levenston from Leicester Riders added: "There are some shocking statistics around sudden heart deaths in young people. We want to do all we can to help Joe's Trust raise awareness of subtle heart conditions like SADS, encourage people to get trained in life-saving skills and in doing so create a new generation of live-savers, including those involved in our sporting community. We're only too happy to share these aims with our fans and encourage them to get involved in SADS Awareness Week."

Over the course of the week, supporters can lend their backing to the campaign by tweeting "I'm breaking the silence on SADS" and using the hashtag #breakthesilence on Twitter. The JHMT Twitter feed is @JHMTorguk

Healthcare professionals can also get involved by booking on to the second annual SADS Awareness conference, which takes place on Tuesday 14 October at Leicester Tigers stadium.

To find out more about SADS Awareness Week, the conference and the work of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, visit www.jhmt.org.uk or check out the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/JHMTorguk and Twitter feed @JHMTorguk.