Balham FC Tackles Cardiac Risk in the Young

Balham FC is proud to support CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young)’s 2019 Raising Awareness Week taking place between 18^th and 25^th November.

Greg Cruttwell, Chairman and Director of Football at Balham FC, has championed awareness about the condition amongst his club’s players for many years. “Every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed cardiac conditions, however, research and programmes in other countries show that screening can reduce the number of young sudden cardiac deaths by nearly 90%¹.

“It is vital that our young people, particularly those involved in sport (where the incidence is higher), are aware of this hidden risk and do what they can to protect themselves, and at Balham FC we are keen to do our part to educate and support”.

The club is providing information to all of its 250+ players and has written to local schools, gyms and leisure centres with vital information about young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) and the importance of screening. An advertisement for CRY will be carried in Balham FC’s match day programme and supporters asked to donate to CRY to help fund research, screening, awareness-raising and support for people affected by YSCD.

Ben Robinson, Head of Fundraising at CRY says, “We are extremely grateful to Balham FC and all those helping us to get the message out about cardiac risk in the young and the importance of screening. CRY holds ECG screening clinics for those aged 14 to 35 at a number of established locations around the UK including at St Georges in Tooting.  Appointments can be made via www.testmyheart.org.uk. If upcoming sessions are fully booked, a request form can be sent to CRY via the testmyheart webpage so that individuals can be informed about future sessions.”

¹ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/203513