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Support
from the public will result in a potentially-lifesaving unit being brought
to Flintshire early next year.
Provisional
bookings are now being taken from 14 to 35 year old wishing to take
advantage of cardiac screening sessions, which are likely to be held in
February – following the success of a Chronicle
backed appeal.
However,
CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) campaigner Doreen Harley was keen to
remind the public that their ongoing support was vital in ensuring the £6,666
target was reached.
‘We
are very close to the final figure,’ Doreen said.
‘But we still need the public to carry on supporting us in the
way they have done to make sure we don’t have to cancel the sessions.’
Earlier
this year, Doreen called on Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami to launch the
North Wales Screening Fund to prevent young lives being needlessly lost.
The
brave mum lost her 27 year old daughter Lisa in 1998 to Long QT Syndrome,
one of the 11 main causes of Sudden Death Syndrome.
She
has teamed up with Geoff and Maureen Rutherford, who run the Miners Arms
in Maes Hafn, to raise the cash to detect early signs of cardiac
abnormalities in the young. The couple also lost their son Jonathan to the condition.
 Husband
and wife team Paula and Simon Hughes are the latest in a line of
fundraisers to support the worthy cause.
The
Maes Hafn couple have handed a cheque for more than £744 to CRY after
taking part in the Great Northern Run.
The donation gave Doreen the confidence to provisionally book the
screening venue, which is still to be announced.
‘Paula
and Simon’s help has been fantastic,’ she said.
‘I’m extremely gratefully to them and want to thank them for
all the hard work they’ve put in.’
The
Connah’s Quay grandmother is confident the premier of Christmas panto Snow
White, being staged by Northop Presents at the village institute on
November 27, will boost the fundraising effort.
A
concert is also being organised at Clwyd Theatre Cymru in Mold on January
19, the anniversary of Jonathan’s death, which Doreen hopes will raise
the final amount.
‘I
cannot stress how much we need people to continue supporting us if these
sessions are to go ahead. They
have been booked on the understanding we raise the final amount’
The
free cardiac screening sessions, which will operate on an appointment
basis, will involve an ECG, an echocardiogram, and a consultation with a
cardiologist.
‘There
will be no charge to the individual.
However, on the day of screening, any donation to CRY will be
gratefully accepted.’
Experts
estimate that up to eight young people in the UK die suddenly each week of
cardiac abnormalities.
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