Cardiac Risk in the Young, known as CRY, was set up after an undetected problem claimed the life of Timperley schoolgirl Chloe Waddell nine years ago, and it has gone from strength to strength ever since.
Not only does it raise awareness among young people, it raises vital funds to pay for potentially life-saving free heart screening, and there is an opportunity for anyone aged 14-35 to take advantage of a clinic in Altrincham next month.
Chloe's mum, Fiona Waddell, takes up the story of how CRY came into being and urges anyone within the stipulated age range to get themselves checked out:
"My daughter, Chloe, was a talented athlete who swam at Swim Trafford Squad and Altrincham Swimming Club. She attended Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and lived locally in Timperley.
Unfortunately, in February 2013, she died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart condition. Chloe had many friends through swimming and sport in general.
Many people have been fundraising since Chloe's death in a memorial fund in Chloe's name for the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). This fund pays for local heart screenings for young adults between the ages of 14-35.
To hold a screening for 100 young people, it takes £5,000 of fund raising. Chloe’s fund has already funded three screenings, covering over 300 young people.
Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions which could be detected with this free screening.
If Chloe had been screened in this way, she may still be with us today.
We now have another free heart screening with 80 places at this screening. This is for people between the ages of 14-35. There will be another later in the year.
We are publicising this to local sports clubs, secondary schools, leisure centres and contacts we have before it goes out to the general public on CRY’s full website, so that local people can access this opportunity first."
The Altrincham event is at the town's Methodist Church on Barrington Road on Saturday, March 19th, and just seven days later, CRY will be at The J.Davidson Stadium as Alty's Non-League Day chosen charity, raising funds for such a worthy cause.
Alty fans of any age can contribute on the day in memory of Chloe, who is pictured in the above poster, and play a part in helping prevent such a tragedy occurring again, while those who are between 14 and 35 years old are cordially invited to book a place at the next local screening event by following these steps:
1. Go on: http://www.testmyheart.org.uk/private/
2. Find Altrincham, Cheshire (Altrincham Methodist Church) listed for the date : 19/3/22
3. Click Register
4. Enter the password: ChloeW1
5. Select a time slot and click ‘register now’.
6. Fill in the required details on the health questionnaire – this will take approximately 15 minutes.
7. Once the appointment is booked, you will receive a confirmation email; this will include a consent form. Please download the document, read carefully before completing and take it with you on the day.