Raising funds and awareness for the Cardiac Inherited Diseases Group in memory of our great friend and good bugger, Matt Lang.

Every year Tuatara Brewery fundraises for the Cardiac Inherited Diseases Group (CIDG) in memory of a great mate and colleague, Matt Lang, who passed away suddenly from a suspected Cardiac Inherited Disease (CID) in December 2013.

In the process, we hope to raise awareness about this fairly common, but relatively unknown genetic illness.

Every year a beer is brewed in Matt's memory, and all proceeds from pints sold go towards purchasing AEDs (Advisory External Defibrillator) for those who live with Cardiac Inherited Diseases (CID) and Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

This year, we would like to make a bigger noise about CID, raising more money for the CIDG and raising more awareness via this Givealittle page!

Matt was Tuatara’s Northern Regional Sales Rep, and integral in establishing the Tuatara brand in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga (and other off-beaten tracks!). He passed away suddenly five days before Christmas, at the young age of 27, in December 2013.

All funds raised from previous Matt Lang brews have gone directly to the Cardiac Inherited Diseases Group (CIDG), who support Kiwis who suffer from CID.

The funds have, to date, purchased six AEDs (with the generous help of Philips Electrical), which CIDG then distribute to those living with CID around New Zealand.

“Having met people whose lives have been affected by CID, and those who work tirelessly to help them, we’ve decided to release this beer annually as we want to drive more awareness around CID,” says Blair Harley, Tuatara’s National Sales Manager and Matt’s team manager.

“Last year, we received a message from a young Auckland woman, telling us how, after a brush with death and major heart surgery due to CID, she was given one of the defibrillators, donated by funds raised with Matt's brew.

“It made us chuffed to bits see the intention of this brew and Matty’s legacy fulfilled. Every year, we hope to exceed our efforts from the year before so we can purchase more AEDs to help people like her live with CID.”

Neither Matt nor his family were aware Matt was vulnerable to the genetic disease, which is acquired at birth and can be difficult to identify as symptoms rarely display, and are characterised by abnormal electrical activity in the heart. Left undetected, this abnormal electrical activity can lead to sudden death, often in one’s sleep. It can affect people of all ages, but commonly presents in young people, especially men in their late teens to early 40s.

While treatment is available, identifying the disorder can be difficult. Though, relatively common, awareness and knowledge of CID is still developing. Two types of CID, LQTS and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) affect 1/2000 and 1/200-500 people, respectively. Once the disease is identified within an individual, family members are screened, as there is a 50 per cent likelihood they will also be affected by the condition. Its occurrence is as common as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as Cot Death), yet there is very little public awareness about CID.

Jon Skinner, Clinical Leader and CIDG Chair, says it is the role of CIDG, a group of New Zealand medical professionals, to prevent sudden deaths caused by CID with ongoing research, by simplifying the screening of at-risk individuals and families, and educating people and health professionals around awareness of CID.

“Tuatara wanted to raise funds and awareness by brewing a beer in Matt’s memory, and approached us to work with them, and find out the best way the money could be used.

“We suggested proceeds of the sales be donated for the purchase of AEDs, a portable defibrillator for at-risk patients with CID. These devices have the potential to save lives, and we want to see them widespread in the community.”

Please help us continue Matty's legacy and raise awareness about CID and support for those who live with it!