102 young people screened for ‘hidden heart’ conditions at a free session, funded in memory of Aaron Dixon

Held in partnership with CRY and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), the inaugural event at the OrthTeam Centre represents a significant milestone in CRY’s ongoing mission to expand access to cardiac screening for young people across the UK.

By combining clinical expertise, academic research, and charitable support, this collaboration aims to increase awareness of silent heart conditions and provide potentially life-saving screenings in a state-of-the-art environment. This  marks a crucial step towards building a more accessible, nationwide screening network for cardiac health among young people.

Every week in the UK, at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people lose their lives to sudden cardiac death. In 80% of these cases, there will have been no warning signs prior to sudden cardiac arrest- which is why CRY believes proactive cardiac screening amongst asymptomatic young people is so vitally important to highlight individuals at risk

The screening day provided 102 free cardiac tests for young people aged 14 to 35, and was funded by Debbie Dixon, from Tarporley, Cheshire, in conjunction with the JD Foundation. Debbie setup the fund in memory of her son Aaron within CRY, who died almost 14 years ago in September 2011, aged just 23.

Aaron, a keen footballer and gym-goer, had an undetected genetic heart defect called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) that can cause cardiac arrest, if undetected and untreated.

Following the heart-breaking loss of her son Aaron, Debbie has tirelessly dedicated herself to fundraising for cardiac screenings in young people – and is now nearing an extraordinary milestone of 10,000 young lives screened.

Debbie explains: “As many are aware, routine screening for young people is not currently available on the NHS. Therefore, screenings held by CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) are vital in detecting potentially fatal heart conditions in young people who experience no symptoms and appear to be fit and healthy, as was the case with Aaron.

“This support means so much to me, but also to the countless lives that can be saved through early detection. Aaron’s legacy will live on through this vital work and knowing that others may be protected from undiagnosed heart conditions brings great comfort. Thank you to everyone at The OrthTeam for helping us turn heartbreak into hope.”

Professor Aneil Malhotra leads the cardiology service at the OrthTeam Centre and was responsible for overseeing the CRY screenings on the day. He also serves as a Consultant Cardiologist at Wythenshawe Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary and Professor of Sports Cardiology at MMU. He is a former CRY research fellow and has worked closely with CRY for more than ten years. On the day, Professor Malhotra identified and referred two people for further assessment to investigate potentially-life threatening conditions.

All 102 attendees completed a health questionnaire and received an electrocardiogram (ECG) examining the electrical activity of the heart. They were then reviewed individually by Professor Malhotra and while the vast majority were given the all clear, a handful of patients required an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) which was provided by CRY on the day, before being given the all clear. Two people required further evaluation at Professor Malhotra’s NHS inherited cardiac conditions and sports cardiology clinic.       

 Professor Aneil Malhotra says: “We are proud of this unique collaboration between the OrthTeam Centre, CRY, and Manchester Metropolitan University, which is the first of its kind and lays the foundation for a dedicated screening facility in the North.

“For more than two decades, CRY has trained specialist fellows, and it is vital that this expert knowledge is shared across the UK. This initiative is a powerful example of how that training is being translated into high-quality, accessible cardiac screening services – made possible through the collaborative efforts of academic, private healthcare, and charitable institutions.”

Chief Executive of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), Dr Steven Cox, comments: “This first screening – held in partnership with the OrthTeam Centre and MMU – represents an important step in CRY’s ongoing mission to increase capacity and accessibility to cardiac screening for young people across the UK. With CRY’s waiting list for screening for now exceeding 110,000, we’re committed to identifying new opportunities to establish screening centres around the UK. So this expert-led centre, in a state-of-the-art, clinical setting is a real landmark for the future of our national screening network.”

“We look forward to this initiative evolving and establishing the OrthTeam Centre as one of CRY’s leading Screening Facilities. We would like to thank all those involved in helping us grow our screening provision in the North West.”

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.

The JD Foundation Charity Manager, Aaron Probert, concludes: “JDF has been proud to support CRY since our inception. We are now in our 10th year and continue to shine a light on the importance of screening for undiagnosed cardiac conditions that can lead to serious health issues and tragically even fatalities among our young people.

“As heart health becomes an increasingly pressing concern, particularly among younger populations, this partnership brings together the JD Foundation’s commitment to community welfare and CRY’s expertise in youth cardiac health. Heart health is not just a concern for adults; it’s crucial for our youth as well. By our continued partnership with Cardiac Risk in the Young, we are taking proactive steps to ensure that young people have access to vital screenings, education, and support.

“Together, we are helping to create a future where heart conditions are detected early and managed effectively.”