The John Marshall Fund
Health
We want to provide free heart screening to 14-35 year olds in our local community in memory of John Marshall.
About this cause
Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions. Since its formation in 1995, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has been working to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). Also sometimes referred to as Sudden Adult Death SYndrome (SADS). Although CRY is a national charity, we as a family directly affected by this after losing my brother John, aged 16, to cardiomyopathy, have been working with them to provide free heart screenings to 14-35 year olds in our local community in memory of John. We have a ring fenced fund in John's name which we raise funds, and every pound goes towards a screening. CRY's vision is: Preventing young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research, and supporting affected families.
How this cause brings people in the community together
Our project can save a young person's life. There is a simple way to diagnose most cardiac abnormalities. This is by having an ECG (electrocardiogram) test, with the results being read by a cardiologist. In 80% of cases of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) there are no prior symptoms of a heart defect. We don't want anyone else to go through the pain of losing a child/sibling as we have.