Family and friends of Jon Devereux, a former rugby player who died at age 28, are participating in the Great North Run to honor his memory and raise awareness for Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).
Devereux collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest during the Bristol Half Marathon in May 2025. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, he could not be saved. His death was attributed to SADS, a condition characterized by the malfunction of the heart’s rhythm or electrical impulses, which affects an estimated 500 young people in the UK annually.
On Sunday, Devereux's parents, Linda and Stuart, along with ten other family members and friends, will compete in the 13-mile Great North Run in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This event holds particular significance as it was Devereux’s favorite half marathon, and Newcastle was a city he cherished during his student years and rugby career.
Linda Devereux described her son as a "beacon of light" who lived life to the fullest. Jon Devereux was an accomplished athlete, playing for Chester Rugby Union Football Club from a young age, as well as Tynedale RFC and Old Albanian RFC. He was also part of the Newcastle Falcons development squad while studying in Newcastle. At the time of his death, he worked as a marketing and events manager for Red Bull’s F1 Racing Team and was preparing for an Ironman training program.
Friends Louis Rigg and Harry Huxtable, both 29, who knew Devereux since they were 15, will also be running. They described the past year as difficult but found solace in sharing memories of Devereux. They emphasized that participating in the Great North Run helps in processing their grief and raising awareness for the chosen charities.
The fundraising efforts are directed towards two charities: Cardiac Risk in the Young, which aims to prevent sudden cardiac deaths in young people, and the Matt Hampson Foundation, which supports individuals injured through sport. Devereux's father, Stuart, noted that Jon would have been proud to support the Matt Hampson Foundation, given his and Matt Hampson's backgrounds as successful rugby players.
