Heart charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), is coming to Ruislip this month to deliver cardiac testing for local young people, thanks to funds raised by a Ruislip family in memory of their son, James Markham.
The specialist screening will provide 100 young people with the opportunity to be tested for potentially dangerous heart conditions.
James, a 21-year-old music student, died suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition in 2001, later found to be Long QT syndrome, which can lead to fatal disturbances in the heart's rhythm.
The screening event, to be held on Sunday (June 14) at Warrender Primary in Ruislip Manor, is a result of the tireless efforts of James' parents, Jeff and Sandra Markham, who have raised over £30,000 for CRY through the James Markham Memorial Fund.
As official regional representatives of the charity, they have also established a 'Walk and Talk' group for London and Middlesex, providing a supportive environment for bereaved individuals to come together. The initiative has now been successfully rolled out across other areas of the UK and has created a lasting impact on the community.
Every week in the UK, at least 12 young people die suddenly from previously undiagnosed heart conditions, with 80% of these cases showing no warning signs. CRY believes that proactive cardiac screening amongst asymptomatic young people is vital, with one in every 300 people tested being identified with a potentially life-threatening condition.
The charity's screening programme provides testing for over 30,000 young people in the UK every year, with screenings taking place in community settings such as schools, colleges, and sports clubs.
Dr Steven Cox, Chief Executive of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), said: “[It] is only due to the incredible commitment and fundraising efforts of families across the UK that we are able to offer this at no cost to the individual when they sign up to be screened at www.testmyheart.org.uk.
“Jeff and Sandra have been loyal supporters of CRY for almost 25 years and their commitment and efforts have been invaluable, as our charity has grown and evolved. Their commitment to supporting other families through those early dark and difficult days following a sudden death is remarkable and unfailing – and Jeff has played such an important role in helping to shape and improve the ways in which young sudden cardiac deaths are properly investigated.
“Their ‘Walk and Talk’ initiative has also created a lasting impact – providing a unique opportunity for bereaved families to meet with others who have also been affected by a young sudden cardiac death. We’re so grateful for Jeff and Sandra’s selfless support over the past two decades and are really pleased that they’ll be holding their first screening in memory of James in June.”
CRY uses a very simple, effective and non-invasive way of diagnosing most cardiac abnormalities. It is a quick, painless and affordable procedure called an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is reviewed by a specially trained medic. If a young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will also refer them for Echocardiogram (ultrasound) and ongoing investigations, as necessary.
