More than 200 students screened as Tom’s Fund goes to the island
Left-to-right: Sandown Bay Academy students with Claire, Helen and CRY screening manager Tony Hill
More than 200 young people were screened during CRY’s first free heart screenings on the Isle of Wight – thanks in part to Tom’s Fund.
Around 15 of the 210 youngsters screened at the Sandown Bay Academy in Sandown were referred for further tests.
Tom’s Fund and the school shared the cost of the two days on January 28 and 29 and the whole event was organised with the utmost efficiency by Helen Barnes – who is the school’s senior administrator and also Claire’s cousin.
Helen has been fund-raising for CRY and going on the CRY Bridges Walk since Tom’s death.
She said she felt that as a school with an excellent sporting reputation, Sandown would be an ideal venue for a screening event as many of the students take part in physical activity.
Many teenagers looked nervous as they came in but were reassured by CRY’s professional mobile medical team and the word soon spread through the school that there was nothing to be concerned about.
Student Matthew Miselbach, 16, said: “As a keen sportsman I wanted to have the test for peace of mind. I thought it was important to be tested especially as many of the people who die of previously undetected heart problems are usually fit and active. I would encourage as many people as possible to have the test if they get the opportunity.”
CRY Family Screening Manager Tony Hill said: “The Sandown Bay Academy students were very polite, courteous and extremely well behaved. The team were made very welcome and were pleased to have screened so many lovely students.”
Also at the screenings was Andrew Quew, a neighbour of Helen’s, who lost his wife to an undiagnosed heart condition in 2011. He is also fund-raising for CRY and hopes to set up the next set of screenings on the Isle of Wight. We wish him lots of luck in his efforts.