The Omagh supporters of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) will host an information day on Saturday in Omagh and Castlederg town centre to help raise awareness of the ‘very real threat to the health of young people by undiagnosed heart illnesses.’

A member of the group, Mrs Helena McElhill, whose son was just 19 when he died of Wolff (Wolfe) Parkinson White Syndrome, has appealed to people visiting the towns on Saturday to pick up information leaflets the charity has printed, giving vital information on the various forms of cardiac illness which can result in the death of young people up to the age of 35. 

On Saturday supporters of the charity will also be handing out postcards, which they are asking people to sign and send to the House of Commons to try and raise the profile of the charity, its work, and the investment needed to prevent deaths in the under-35 age group due to undetected heart illness. 

Mrs McElhill outlined the most common causes of unexpected cardiac death in under 35s and added that these conditions include thickening or abnormal structure of the heart muscle and irregularities of electrical impulses that upset the natural rhythm of the heart. 

"We are currently running an awareness programme regarding cardiac risk in the young.  Every week at least eight apparently ‘fit and healthy’ young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions in the UK alone."

"In the UK unexplained ‘sudden death’ is frequently recorded as due to natural causes, but experts believe that most of these deaths are due to Sudden Death Syndrome," she said. 

Mrs McElhill continued: "until the law is changed and coroners have to refer deaths from heart illnesses on to specialists we will not know the true figures.  In order to reduce the risk of young deaths, we need to introduce a screening programme in Northern Ireland and ideally in schools so as everyone can benefit." 

Mrs McElhill said the postcard campaign was launched in Belfast to heighten awareness and try to get MPs locally to lobby the government to set up a screening programme. 

"This campaign is going well, and we would also urge people to give it their backing especially in school.  For my own part, I will be trying to visit most of the local schools before the holidays, and CRY members will be hosting the information day in Omagh and Castlederg on Saturday to make sure as many people as possible are aware of these heart conditions in young people," she said. 

It is often difficult to consider that someone who is apparently young and fit may have a cardiac abnormality and could be at risk.  There have been a number of reported incidents of misdiagnosis culminating in a tragedy that could have been avoided by screening. 

In addition, sporty youngsters stress their heart the most and if they have an underlying abnormality they are more at risk as strenuous activity can act as a trigger causing them to die by exacerbating an undetected condition.  Indeed, anyone under 35 who has experienced chest pain during exercise, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness or fainting, should contact their doctor and consider screening. 

In addition to raising awareness, CRY also provides a counselling service for bereaved families, as well as a free information brochure. 

And, as well as the town centre postcard campaign, in Omagh an information stand will be erected to the rear of Boots the Chemist, where more information is to be made available. 

The event will be attended by children’s entertainer and songwriter, Mr Tom Sweeney.