Following on from a new yearly screening record of 27,542 young people in 2017, CRY has now screened a staggering total of 152,000 young people aged between 14 and 35, since 1995.
It was in 1993 when CRY Founder Alison Cox first discussed the idea of cardiac screening for young people with Professor William McKenna. With the help of the Lawn Tennis Association, CRY’s first screening checked the hearts of some of Britain’s top ranked tennis players.
Since the launch of its screening programme in 1995, CRY has worked tirelessly to screen as many young people as possible and to pursue greater financial and political support to bring a national screening programme closer to reality. Thanks to the amazing fundraising efforts of our supporters all around the UK and the addition of more members of staff and Research Fellows (who offer their expertise at every screening) CRY now screens around 27,000 young people every year.
CRY Chief Executive Dr Steven Cox adds: “We began screening young people over 20 years ago and I am so proud that we are now testing around 27,000 young people annually and have now reached the staggering landmark of 150,000 in total. Our world-renowned screening programme based at St Georges in London is also the hub of our international research led by Professor Sanjay Sharma. As screening and research continues to work together hand in hand, we will continue to take great strides to preventing young sudden cardiac death.”
One in every 300 young people tested by CRY will be referred for further investigation for a potentially life-threatening condition; whilst one in 100 people will have a condition that could cause problems later in life if they were unaware of it. For those who are diagnosed with an abnormality, the vast majority of conditions we detect can be treated with lifestyle modifications or simple medication that will ensure people can still play sport and live an active life.
All young people should have the opportunity to be screened, which is why we offer our screenings free of charge. Most of CRY’s public screenings are funded by families in memory of a young person who has died from sudden cardiac arrest.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this major screening landmark. Without our supporters, staff, doctors and screening technicians, this would never have been possible.
If you would like to be screened, simply go to www.testmyheart.org.uk to find a local screening event near you; or attend one of our fortnightly screenings at St George’s Hospital, London.
