First heart checks in memory of tragic Shropshire teenager
About 250 young people turned out to have their hearts checked at the first screening sessions held in memory of a young Shropshire athlete who died after collapsing during fitness training.
Matthew Dewhirst, a pupil at Ellesmere College and keen sportsman, suffered from Young Sudden Cardiac Death in 2012, aged just 17. The condition kills 12 young people every week.
Following the tragedy his parents, Sue and Chris Dewhirst, launched a fundraising and health awareness campaign, saying a simple preventative health check could have saved Matthew's life.
At the first set of screenings run this weekend at Ellesmere College, two people were referred to see cardiologist who would not have known there would have been a problem before the screening.
Mrs Dewhirst said: "The screenings went very well and we had about 250 young people come forward which was phenomenal.
"Two of those people have been referred, who obviously came here not realising they had a problem.
"We don't know the extent of what was wrong but now they know and have been made aware. They will be referred to a cardiologist and potentially this has been life saving for them."
To date the fund has raised more than £30,000 and this money is being put towards a cardiac screening programme in Shropshire and Cheshire.
The screening event at Ellesmere College was supported by Oswestry Lions.
It is donated £3,500 to the campaign, which, Mrs Dewhirst said, would cover the cost of screening 100 young people.
"I think Matthew would probably be very embarrassed about all the fuss we are making in his name," she said.
"But he was always a very fair and just person, and we know that he wouldn't want others to suffer, because they didn't know about Young Sudden Cardiac Death."
There are about 160,000 young people currently in the UK, aged 14 to 25 years – three in every 100 – that have a life-threatening heart condition and don't realise it.
Mrs Dewhirst added: "At this screening we raised about £2,000 which will now go towards screening at a future event. We want to make sure we can reach as many people as possible."
Fundraising is continuing with bag packing at Sainsbury's in Oswestry on May 24 between 10am and 4pm.
To find out more about the screening programme or to donate call Mrs Dewhirst on 07789 415242 or email mail@CRY-for-matthew.org.uk
