This campaign has now closed
Cardiac Risk in the Young need to purchase a new van so we can continue to screen young hearts across the country and prevent more cases of Young Sudden Cardiac Death
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
CRY works to protect the cardiac health of young people throughout the UK. It is the only organisation that focuses on Sudden Death Syndrome in young people. At CRY we aim to save young lives and to help those affected by the sudden cardiac death of a young person. Each week 12 young people in the UK die from Sudden Death Syndrome. 80% of young people who die suddenly have no previous symptoms and the only way to find out if they are at risk is through screening. Screening, using a simple ECG can save the lives of fit and healthy young people who have no idea they are at risk. Once young people are diagnosed they can be offered treatment and support. CRY works to reduce the number of these deaths by operating a national cardiac screening programme. The CRY mobile screening unit enables young people to be screened throughout the UK in their schools, sports clubs and communities. Our screening programme has a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of young people across the UK offering them the chance of a future. In our recent Test My Heart Tour, that took place over a 12 week period 2,000 young people were screened. 8.8% of all those who had an ECG required a supplementary ultrasound test. Potentially fatal heart conditions were found in four young people, including two cases of Brugada, a Cardiomyopathy and a WPW. Other important conditions requiring surgery or lifestyle modifications were found in a further nine people. In all, nine different types of heart condition were identified. The costs of our screening programmes are kept to a minimum as leading cardiologists volunteer their time to carry out screenings for us and much of our equipment has been donated. However, it is an expensive process, and our transport costs are a significant part of this. The CRY screening van is ten years old this year. It has helped us to save the lives of hundreds of young people but it is getting rather old and has broken down on several occasions over the past 12 months. During the Test My Heart Tour alone it travelled 3,000 miles, taking vital screening equipment to young people across the country. We would be enormously grateful if the Trustees would consider assisting us with the purchase of a new van. This would enable us to screen more young people across the UK and prevent more tragedies. As well as our screening programme, the van is used to transport equipment to suitable events including the London Marathon , Cry Bridges Walk, the CRY Parliamentary Reception, raising awareness events and Marathon runners from the finish line to our after race massage facilities . The vehicle offers an opportunity to acknowledge whoever chooses to support the purchase of the vehicle on the side of the van.