Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) reached another phenomenal milestone at the end of June. 24 years after being founded, with more and more screening events held every year, CRY has now screened a total of 200,000 young people.

Alongside the research we complete, the awareness we raise and the bereavement support we offer, completing screenings to prevent more tragedies is at the forefront of everything CRY does. Reaching this milestone is a fantastic achievement for CRY and all of our supporters.

This further reinforces how CRY is leading the way in the prevention of young sudden cardiac deaths. These screenings will have saved many lives and diagnosed many more with conditions that they will have been able to treat using medication, surgery or lifestyle changes. And our progress isn’t slowing down. CRY is on track to screen more than 30,000 young people in 2019, an increase from 29,000 last year.

As we continue to gather the support of more MPs, with the signatures of 175 now on our pledge to establish a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death, we can strive to make an impact in government as well to further the work we are already doing. Click here for information on what you can do to help and how you can contact your MP.

Chief Executive of CRY, Dr Steven Cox, adds “We began screening young people over 20 years ago and I am so proud that we have now exceeded 200,000 tests! Each year the programme has grown as more and more young people are given the choice to have their hearts tested. I want to thank all the families and supporters across the UK who have made it possible to reach this incredible milestone. Specialist cardiac screening is still the most effective way we have of saving young lives from these silent heart conditions which can have such devastating consequences when left undiagnosed.

“The current position where there has to be a tragedy before other family members are tested to find out if they are also at risk is madness. The aim must to be to prevent the first tragedy in every family. One day, all young people will routinely have their hearts checked and people will look back with disbelief that this was not a normal part of preventive health. Through supporting CRY’s screening and research programme families all over the UK are showing what can be achieved, they are building a future where young lives will be saved in memory of all the young people who have died so suddenly.“

Reaching this screening milestone is only possible because of our incredible supporters. Without your help, we wouldn’t be able to raise the funds necessary to secure screening events all around the UK, ensuring hundreds of young people are tested every week.

Thank you so much for all you do. With your support, we will be able to continue screening more and more young people every year.