Coventry mum wants young people to get heart screenings after death of daughter

Since the CRY Screening Programme was first launched, over 275,000 young people have been tested.

Author: Lia DesaiPublished 14th Aug 2023

A Coventry mum whose teenage daughter died of a sudden cardiac arrest is encouraging young people to get their heart checked.

Karen Bury has been working with the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) to host heart screenings for 14- to 35-year-olds.

An event this weekend (12 August) took place is in memory of her daughter Ella Bury.

The 17-year-old passed away from SADS (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome) in the Mount Nod area of the city back in July 2014.

In response, Ella’s mother Karen has been fundraising to prevent anything like this from happening to another young person.

Karen Bury said: "It's important to hold these events and for young people to get their hearts screened, because ultimately I don't want another family to suffer the way we have after we lost Ella."

She continue: "This weekend we held a heart screening event, and that's so young people don't have to go to the doctors, and these events are funded through money donated in memory of loved ones.

"Its comforting that these young people are getting their hearts screened because you just don't know if you have a heart condition, and it could be fatal."

Ella Bury

CRY provided their mobile cardiac screening service to Cadent Gas in Ansty Park, Coventry where the event took place.

The charity claims around 12 young people (under the age of 35) dies suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition every week in the UK, with 80% of these deaths occurring with no prior symptoms.

Chief Executive of Cardiac Risk in the Young, Dr Steven Cox, said: "CRY tests over 25,000 young people each year, aged between 14 and 35 – and ideally, the charity wants every young person to have the choice to have their heart tested.

"As CRY receives no government funding, our UK-wide screening programme is only possible because of the incredible support we receive from families, communities and local businesses throughout the UK to provide this service free to the public.

"For almost 30 years, we have had such incredible support from those who’ve been affected by young sudden cardiac death, and I find it so humbling that despite their own experience, bereaved families feel able to back us through amazing fundraising and awareness efforts.

"Just like Ella’s friends and family, this is so often driven by the will to prevent others from having to endure the same devastating grief as they have."

For more information about CRY’s services please go to www.c-r-y.org.uk or to register interest for a cardiac screening near you, visit www.testmyheart.org.uk.

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