Elaine Crangle, Patricia Perry, and Michele Slane, along with twelve of their family and friends, are busy preparing to take on local health charity Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s (NICHS) Red Dress Fun Run this weekend. They are running in memory of Seamus Perry, known to most as Seamy, Patricia’s son, Elaine’s fiancé and Michele’s long-time friend. Seamy, who lived in Glengormley but was originally from the Newington area of Belfast, and who sadly passed away in January at the age of just 51 following an unexpected heart attack. The group want to raise funds for NICHS as well as awareness of heart conditions in tribute to Seamy.
Elaine explains; “Seamy went to bed fine that night. He didn’t mention feeling unwell and there were no signs anything like this would happen. He woke up at 3.45am and said, ‘I think I'm having a heart attack’, and was holding his chest. I called 999 and a rapid response Paramedic arrived but Seamy had a massive heart attack.”
“They lost Seamy for five to seven minutes on the way to the Royal Victoria Hospital, but they managed to get him back. He was taken for surgery, and the Cardiologist was able to operate and put in three stents but sadly Seamy had a fatal cardiac arrest. That was all within the space of about three hours- he woke to say he thought he was having a heart attack to passing away.”
“When everything started happening and then at the hospital, Seamus’s parents, alongside his brother, sister and I were scared but thought, ‘he’s going to be ok. He's had a heart attack, but he’s getting medical care, he will be unwell for a while, but it will be ok.’ We didn’t expect this outcome at all. He was only 51. His passing has left a massive hole.”
Talking about Seamy, Michele says; “He was a joker and loved to wind people up. He was always the first on the dance floor, no matter where we went. Although he was like Bambi on ice skates! He was just always up for good fun and enjoying himself.”
“He was a big character. Everybody that met him loved him. He was the sort of person who let you in. He let you love him and you fell in love with his personality.”
Elaine adds; “He loved football and was a talented player, just like his grandfather. He was signed by Gillingham FC in Kent when he was younger, but his family were Seamy’s everything and he came home as he was homesick.”
“He was involved with Newington Football Club all his life. He loved the club and played football right into his forties. Seamy came from the Newington area and his family were very involved in the early life of the club. He was recognised as one of the best ‘40 Players from 40 Years’ selection within Newington. Something which meant the world to his mummy, siblings and me.”
“He also had a great work ethic. Seamy worked in the fruit and vegetable trade and started work every morning at 4am. He did that for so many years, and he worked hard to provide for his family.”
“He lived every day like it was his last. He lost his brother when they were in their thirties and he found that hard. After that he just lived his life how he wanted- few of us can say that.”
Wanting to do something in Seamy’s memory Michele started looking at fundraising options for Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke. “The donations in lieu of flowers after Seamy passed away went to NICHS and we wanted to do something further for the charity. We saw the details about the Red Dress Fun Run and knew right away we wanted to do it. It’s great as it’s for everyone, no matter their age or ability and Seamy’s grandson can take part in his buggy which is special. Seamy adored his grandson, he just stole his heart when he was born.”
“There is a group of twelve of us taking part so far including Seamy’s mum Patricia, Elaine, myself, Seamy’s stepson and his girlfriend, my husband, Seamy’s cousin and his wife, and other friends of Seamy’s from both inside and outside of work. We raised approximately £1500 in just over one week which has been amazing, people have been so generous. We’re hoping to reach the £2000 mark.”
Elaine adds; “We are glad the money raised will go to a local charity. NICHS do so much to help people here affected by heart conditions. If Seamy had of survived he probably would have needed NICHS’s support and it gives some comfort knowing others will be helped in his memory.”
“We also want to raise awareness of heart health and that’s why we’re sharing Seamy’s story. He was only 51 and didn’t seem to have any obvious signs or symptoms that something like this could happen. We want to raise awareness that heart conditions can affect anyone, at any age. It can be unexpected and is not something that solely affects older people.”
She continues; “Looking back there were maybe some warning signs, like Seamy mentioning his chest being sore at times but he put that down to indigestion and a lack of sleep. He was fit, always on his feet, young, so it was easy to just put little niggles down to other things. There was nothing that made him, or me, think that a heart attack was a possibility.”
“We are talking about what happened to Seamy to highlight that signs of a potential issue aren’t always severe and very obvious and to urge people not to ignore things. Don’t be worried about contacting your doctor if you think something isn’t one hundred percent right. Don’t ignore things or brush them off, it’s best to get things checked out.”
Michele says; “Taking part in the Red Dress Fun Run has been something positive for us all to focus on. After Seamy’s funeral there was a lull and this has given us a motivation and a focus to help us get through these first few months. It has also been good for us physically, helping us get a bit fitter and think about our own heart health, which can only be a positive thing. We are looking forward to the day and will be thinking of Seamy with every step we take.”
Last year, the Red Dress Fun Run had over 700 people take part, and the charity is once again hoping for a sea of red participants at this year’s event which takes place at Stormont Estate, Belfast, on Sunday (22nd March). Leigh Osborne, Community and Events Fundraising Manager at the charity, is urging the public to sign up to the event saying; “We are so grateful to Elaine and Michele for sharing Seamy’s story, raising awareness of heart conditions and for supporting the Red Dress Fun Run. Sadly, so many people are affected by heart illness in our local communities and coronary heart disease is the biggest single cause of premature deaths in people younger than 75 here. NICHS is here to help anyone affected by a cardiac condition with expert care and support.”
“So please come run, walk, dance, skip or wheel 5K with us at the Red Dress Fun Run. Together we can help rebuild thousands of lives and make a lasting change towards the health of people in Northern Ireland. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in the fun - even the family pooch!”
The 2026 event is being supported once again by the charity’s long term corporate partners, MACE and Musgrave MarketPlace. Diane Anthony from Musgrave says; “MACE and Musgrave MarketPlace are both backing NICHS’s call for people to dress up in red and take part in this weekend’s event, which is set to be fantastic. Whether you are taking part in memory of someone you have lost to a chest, heart or stroke disease, are celebrating someone who is living with such a condition, or want to help prevent these diseases affecting someone in the future – sign up and join us to support this worthy cause!”
You can sign up to the Red Dress Fun Run at www.nichs.org.uk/RedDressFunRun until Friday 20th March at 2pm or come along and register on the day of the event.
