This weekend will see 200 young people have the opportunity to have their hearts screened through the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young. In a change from previous screenings which have been held in Dumfries, the screening on 14th and 15th June will take place at Kirkcudbright Academy. Every young person screened will receive an ECG and a 1:1 consultation with a cardiologist.
Since David’s death in March 2022, the David Hill Memorial Fund has now raised over £80,000 which has allowed David’s family to organise and book 1200 free cardiac screenings across Dumfries and Galloway.
David’s parents, Rodger Hill and Sharon Duncan said “ We hope that by taking this screening to the west of the region, more young people will have the opportunity to have their hearts screened. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us in our fundraising and awareness raising campaigns.
We, and CRY, believe that every young person from the age of 14 (up until the age of 35) should have access to free, expert cardiac screening and that young people and their parents should be given a choice to be screened.
We will continue our campaign to urge the Government to radically re-think its approach to specialist cardiac screening in the UK in order to reduce the incidence of young people dying from the often-preventable conditions that can cause sudden cardiac death in young people.
Since David’s death, just over three years ago, almost 2000 families have had to experience the pain, anguish and grief that we have had. That is a pain that is preventable with screening”
David collapsed whilst playing a cross-party rugby match for Holyrood against Dail and Seanad XV at Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin as part of the Parliamentary Six Nations. He was aged just 30.
Originally from Dumfriesshire, David worked for several MSPs during his time at Holyrood and at the time of his death he had been working for Jamie Greene MSP. David’s popularity and hardworking reputation led to him being posthumously named Parliamentary Staffer of the Year in September 2022 at the Holyrood Magazine Awards.
Every week in the UK, around 12 young people (that are aged 35 and under) die suddenly from a previously diagnosed heart condition. 80% of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms – which is why CRY is so committed to the importance of specialist cardiac screening.
Dr Steven Cox, Chief Executive of CRY adds: “
“As ever, on behalf of all of us at CRY, I would like to say a huge “thank you” to David’s family and everyone involved with the David Hill Memorial Fund – their ongoing fundraising and awareness efforts are making such an incredible impact to the level of cardiac screening we’re delivering for young people in Scotland.
“This year marks 30 years since CRY was launched – with a vision to reduce young sudden cardiac death through screening and research – and it’s only due to the support of families, such as David’s, that we’ve been able to grow our nationwide screening programme to the extent that we’ve now tested over 315,000 young hearts. One in every 300 of those tested by CRY will be found to have a hidden heart condition which, if left untreated or unmonitored, could cause a fatal cardiac arrest. We know that screening saves lives. We also know that we desperately need a new, Governmental strategy to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths – and this is an area that David’s friends, family and former colleagues have been so proactive in campaigning for, too.
“It’s great to see another screening session taking place in June. Thank you – you’re all doing amazing work in memory of David.”
CRY also funds pioneering research into the conditions that can cause young sudden cardiac death as well as providing a unique bereavement support network for all families who have been affected. CRY’s screening programme currently tests around 30,000 young people (aged 14-35) every year in the UK (and has screened over 315,000 young people in total, to date).
One in every 300 of the young people that CRY tests, will be identified with a potentially life- threatening condition.
Regional, community screenings are usually funded by families who have been affected by a young sudden cardiac death, so there is no charge to the individual when CRY’s mobile cardiac screening service is bought to a local school, sports club or community venue. Any person between the age of 14 and 35 can register to have a free cardiac screening at www.testmyheart.org.uk
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 at the screening. If a young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will conduct an Echocardiogram (ultrasound) on the same day, also for no charge, and will swiftly refer them for on-going, more in-depth investigations, as necessary.
Although heart screening won’t identify all young people at risk, in Italy where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, they have reduced the incidence of young sudden cardiac death by 89%. This is because sport – whilst it does not cause sudden cardiac death – can significantly increase a young person’s risk should they have an underlying condition.
