We’re asking you to contact your Member of Parliament and urge them to sign our pledge to establish a national strategy for the prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death
CRY supporters Gill and Stephen Ayling, in memory of their son Nathan Bryan, have created a petition calling on the government to fund population cardiac screening for every young person when they reach age 14 years.
In the UK, 12 young people aged 35 and under die suddenly every week from undiagnosed heart conditions. That’s more than 600 young lives lost every year.
These aren’t elderly people experiencing heart attacks. These are young people playing sport, students at university, young parents, athletes, school children – fit, healthy young people with their whole lives ahead of them.
Building Political Momentum
When MPs sign the pledge and the petition gains signatures, it demonstrates to the government that there is strong public and parliamentary support for action on young sudden cardiac death.
Creating Systemic Change
A National Strategy and funded screening at age 14 would create systemic change across the NHS, ensuring every young person has access to life-saving cardiac screening regardless of where they live or their family’s circumstances.
Honouring Lost Lives
Every action we take honours the memory of a young person who has died from undiagnosed heart conditions. Their deaths were not in vain if we can prevent future tragedies.
Saving Future Lives
With your help, we can save young lives. Every signature, every letter, every voice brings us closer to that goal.
This Heart Month, we’re asking you to contact your Member of Parliament and urge them to sign our pledge to establish a national strategy for the prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death:
I pledge to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death to help save the lives of the 12 apparently fit and healthy young people who die every week in the UK of undiagnosed cardiac conditions
Currently, 56 MPs have signed this pledge – down from 136 before the 2024 election. We need to rebuild this vital parliamentary support.
Why We Need a National Strategy:
UK healthcare policy to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths is currently informed by several different guidelines and recommendations, including:
The problem is that these policies are contradictory, based on inconsistent assessments of incidence, diagnosis methods, and management of cardiac conditions in young people.
A National Strategy would ensure that guidelines are consistent, based on accurate data, and focused on saving young lives.
Use an MP finder tool on either of these websites:
Check our pledge tracker to see if your MP has already signed the pledge. If they have, you can still contact them to thank them and let them know how you have been impacted by a Young Sudden Cardiac Death or how you have been impacted by proactive cardiac screening.
We’ve prepared a complete letter that you can send to your MP. You can:
Let others know you’ve taken action! Share on social media using:
I have written to my MP to ask them to Pledge to establish a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death
#HeartMonth #MPSupport4CRY #12Aweek
Copy, Download, or Customise This Letter
Instructions:
Dear [MP Name],
Subject: Urgent Request to Sign the National Strategy Pledge
I am writing to you as your constituent to ask for your support on a matter that affects young people across our constituency and the entire United Kingdom. I urge you to take action that could help save young lives:
[OPTIONAL PERSONAL SECTION – If this issue has affected you personally, add 1-2 paragraphs here explaining your connection. For example:]
This issue is particularly close to my heart because [explain personal connection]. Knowing that these deaths are often preventable makes it all the more urgent that we take action.
The Scale of the Crisis
Every week in the UK, 12 young people aged 35 and under die suddenly from undiagnosed heart conditions. That’s more than 600 young lives lost every year – 600 sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and teammates who had their whole lives ahead of them.
These aren’t elderly people experiencing heart attacks. These are teenagers playing football, students at university, young parents, competitive athletes, school children – apparently fit and healthy young people whose deaths come without warning.
The tragedy is that many of these deaths are preventable.
Early Detection Saves Lives
A simple electrocardiogram (ECG) screening can identify hidden heart conditions before a young person experiences symptoms or sudden death. Cardiac Risk in the Young’s screening programmes have shown that 1 in 300 people screened will have a potentially life-threatening cardiac condition that can benefit from treatment or lifestyle advice.
Since 1995, CRY has conducted over 337,000 screenings, detecting thousands of conditions that might otherwise have gone undiagnosed until it was too late. These screenings save lives.
Why We Need a National Strategy
Current UK healthcare policies to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths are contradictory and inconsistent. Different guidelines use different assessments of incidence, diagnosis methods, and management approaches for cardiac conditions in young people.
The UK National Screening Committee and the UK Statistics Authority have both acknowledged that the number of young sudden cardiac deaths is significantly under-reported in official statistics. In 2015, policy advisors wrongly considered the risk; and compared these deaths to heart attacks in elderly people – a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue.
We urgently need a coordinated National Strategy to ensure that guidelines and policies are consistent, based on accurate data, and focused on saving young lives. The first stage must be to correctly acknowledge the true incidence and devastating impact of these deaths.
The Pledge for a National Strategy
The pledge reads:
I pledge to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death to help save the lives of the 12 apparently fit and healthy young people who die every week in the UK of undiagnosed cardiac conditions.
Currently, 56 MPs have signed this pledge – down from 136 before the 2024 election. Your signature would help rebuild this vital parliamentary support and demonstrate to the government that MPs across all parties recognise the importance of addressing this preventable tragedy.
Your Support Would Make a Real Difference
By signing the pledge, you would be:
How to Take Action
I would be very grateful if you could confirm whether you will:
Sign the pledge to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death
I would also welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue with you further, either at one of your constituency surgeries or via email.
Every week that passes, another 12 young people lose their lives to undiagnosed heart conditions. With your support, we can help ensure that fewer families experience the devastating and life-changing loss of a child, sibling, or friend to a preventable cardiac death.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this urgent matter. I look forward to your response and to your support for this vital cause.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Email Address]
Signing the petition takes just 2 minutes and sends a powerful message to the government that cardiac screening from the age of 14 should be funded for all young people.
CRY supporters Gill and Stephen Ayling, in memory of their son Nathan Bryan, have created a petition calling on the government to fund population cardiac screening for every young person when they reach age 14 years.
The Petition Calls For:
“Fund population cardiac screening for every young person when they reach age 14 years. The screening should be undertaken with a review of family history and electrocardiogram (ECG) followed up where necessary with echocardiogram (heart scan).”
Why Age 14?
Age 14 is a critical time to screen young people as many cardiac conditions become detectable during adolescence. Early screening means:
In Memory of Nathan Bryan
This petition honours the memory of Nathan Bryan and all the young people whose lives have been lost to undiagnosed heart conditions. By signing, you’re standing with families like the Aylings and saying that no more young lives should be lost when screening could save them.
Most MPs hold regular constituency surgeries where you can meet them in person. Check your MP’s website for dates and times. Bring our letter and share why this issue matters to you.
Raise awareness by sharing campaign posts, facts, and personal stories.
Tag your MP and encourage others to act.
If your MP responds, let us know!
If they do not commit to signing the pledge, follow up with another message.
Share this campaign with friends, family, colleagues, and your community. The more people who contact their MPs, the stronger our voice becomes.
MPs need to hear from their constituents that this issue matters. Your voice helps demonstrate public support for a National Strategy and encourages MPs to prioritise young cardiac health.
Yes! MPs track constituent feedback and respond to issues that matter to their communities. When many constituents contact their MP about the same issue, it signals that action is needed.
Great! You can still contact them to thank them for their support and you can also encourage them to actively champion this cause in Parliament.
Absolutely! While the letter is ready to send as-is, you’re welcome to add your own personal story or reasons why this issue matters to you. Personal stories can be very powerful.
Most MPs respond to constituent correspondence. If you don’t receive a response within a few weeks, you can follow up. If you do receive a response, please let us know!
If a petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the government must respond. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. Every signature counts!