Building on Brentford FC’s work to promote cardiac health in the past, one year ago today the club launched a new initiative, the Heart of West London.
Nity Raj, general counsel at Brentford FC, who led the initiative, spoke at the time of the launch about why this continues to be an issue which is important to the club
He said: “We started on a journey of supporting cardiac health following the tragic death of technical director, Rob Rowan in 2018. This alliance and the initiatives that are to come will serve as a lasting legacy to our friend.”
The Heart of West London group has been made up of Brentford FC, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), Resuscitation Council UK, Pablo London and A-K-A Day.
In April, in partnership with CRY, more than 160 young people aged 14-35 were screened at the Community Stadium Hub. Pontus Jansson and Josh Dasilva were there to offer their support.
The sessions were arranged with the support of Suzanne Rowan who continues to be a driving force behind the campaign. Suzanne reflected on the weekend: “Robert’s family and I are incredibly grateful for the support with the screenings, and we’re delighted that so many young hearts have been checked by CRY in his memory.”
In just 12 months, the Heart of West London campaign has proven that the power of football can extend far beyond the pitch.
We extend our deep appreciation to all of our partner organisations, to our staff and to all of our fans who have been involved.
Together, we will continue to use the power of sport and our collective voice to change the game for cardiac health in west London.
