The Omagh members of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) held an awareness day in Prospect Court last weekend to give local people an insight into the work they are doing, and the campaigns in which they are taking part. 

One of the biggest campaigns they are taking part in is the Postcard Campaign, which began in May.  The campaign aims to get MPs to lobby the British Government to set up a mobile screening programme, which could help save the lives of many young people. 

The campaign is going well but requires additional support, especially from local schools and sports groups. 

Helena McEnhill, who lost her son Proinnsais to an undetected heart condition, is a local supporter of CRY and has travelled round many schools in the local area in at attempt to raise awareness of such conditions.  Proinnsais’s heart condition could have been treated if it had been detected. 

She said, “Local GP’s need top know about these conditions and how to detect and treat them.  I wouldn’t want another family go have to go through what our family went through.  Too many young people are dying from these preventable conditions which can be easily detected by Mobile Cardiac Screening."

At least eight apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions each week.  Tyrone All-Ireland football champion Cormac McAnallen was a high-profile victim of such an undiagnosed heart condition.  Yet experts believe that most of these deaths are due to Sudden Death Syndrome.  Until the law is changed and coroners have to refer hearts on to specialists we will not know the true figures. 

To reduce the risk of young deaths, a screening programme, ideally in schools so everybody can benefit. 

CRY is a national charity raising awareness of potentially genetic cardiac abnormalities in young people, offering bereavement support for families and promoting screening for those at risk. 

The Omagh members received a great response to their awareness day, and hope that this local support will continue to help strengthen their campaign.  The group would also like to thank Tom Sweeney who turned up to show his support for the Awareness Day on Saturday.