Much-loved teacher's sudden death sparks warning to save lives

A dearly-loved Somerset teacher who died from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome aged just 29, is the inspiration behind a series of fund-raising runs launching this weekend.

Paige Steninger loved sport, especially netball and swimming. She was herself an inspiration to her fiance, family and friends, and to pupils at Charlton Horethorne Church of England Primary School where she taught. She also taught many children in the Yeovil area swimming and played in Yeovil & District netball league

Paige’s brother Dean and his best friend Sam Grayson are now organising Run Pink For Paige, five kilometre runs to raise funds for the charity SADS UK, and awareness of the warning signs which could help save lives.

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Paige loved the colour pink and at least 40 runners (and walkers) wearing pink hats will set off from Yew Tree Park playing field off Plantagenet Chase in her home town of Yeovil, at 10am this Sunday December 1 ^st . More are welcome to join and everyone can support the cause via https://www.justgiving.com/page/runpinkforpaige.

Mr Steninger and Sam are staging one run every day during Advent, finishing on Christmas Eve. All but the Yew Tree run will be in the London area where each lives.

SADS occurs when the heart goes into a chaotic rhythm from which it cannot return naturally. The exact causes are not known but certain heart conditions, some of them genetic, could result in a SADS death if undiagnosed and untreated.

After Paige’s death her family was tested and Paige’s father, Dean, and Dean’s two young daughters, Evelyn and Maya, were found to carry a relevant gene. They are now taking daily betablockers that should ensure their good health.

SADS UK funds research and works on prevention and emergency care, installing defibrillators across the UK and spreading awareness of the warning signs - such as faintness, a seizure, chest pain, abnormal shortness of breath or dizziness during exercise, which if untreated could lead to SADS.

Paige’s death was completely unexpected. Dean says: “She was so popular, had so many friends - and she always gave back. At the time I said: ‘there has to be a reason for this’ She’s given her life but we have been protected and through telling her story we can make sure that her name lives on and more lives are saved.”

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