(Image: Supplied)
Hundreds of young people will be offered potentially lifesaving heart screenings this week in memory of a North East teenager who died from an undiagnosed heart condition.
James Campbell, a 16-year-old student from Middlesbrough, died suddenly in November 2013 while away on a National Citizenship Service camp in Northumbria.
He had no known symptoms or warning signs of cardiac issues.
Jame's mum Karen Campbell
(Image: Supplied)
In his memory, around 200 young people from Middlesbrough and the surrounding area will be screened for hidden heart conditions by Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) at St Barnabas Church Hall in Linthorpe on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15.
Dr Steven Cox, chief executive of CRY, said: "Karen, her family, friends, and the entire local community have worked so hard to raise the funds needed to bring cardiac screening back to Middlesbrough in memory of James.
"CRY now provides testing for over 35,000 young people in the UK every year.
"But, it’s only due to the incredible commitment and fundraising efforts of families such as James’ that we are able to offer our programme at no cost to the individual when they sign up to be screened at www.testmyheart.org.uk.
"As with so many of CRY’s amazing supporters, James’ family have so bravely been able to see beyond their own devastating experience to help play a crucial role in preventing other families from having to endure the same devastating grief as they have.
"We owe so much to our supporters and will continue to work hard on their behalf to ensure we can reduce the incidence of young sudden cardiac death through awareness, research, and screening, as well as campaigning for cardiac screening to be extended, one day, to all young people."
James’ family and friends, supported by the community, established the James William Campbell Memorial Fund in partnership with CRY.
To date, they have raised more than £50,000, enabling nearly 600 young people to receive free heart screenings.
James’ mother, Karen Campbell, said: "We are extremely grateful to the local community for helping us raise the £14,000 needed to fund these two days of vital screenings.
"Unfortunately demand certainly outstripped supply when the bookings went live, so there are a number of young people on a waiting list.
"It could be they have to wait many more months.
"Therefore, if you have an appointment and can’t make it, please let the CRY office or myself know asap as someone else could have your place.
"A big thank you to St Barnabas Church for providing the venue and Co-Op Funeral care for sponsoring the refreshments and lunch for the CRY screening team.
"Their support and generosity of their donations are extremely welcome.
"Donations from individuals or local companies looking to support a "local cause" are more than welcome to contact me via CRY or find me on Facebook."
It is almost 10 years since the last screening was held in the local area.
CRY estimates that at least 12 apparently fit and healthy people aged 35 and under die each week in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions.
Of those tested by CRY, one in 300 is found to have a potentially life-threatening condition.
Screening involves a simple, non-invasive ECG test to detect most abnormalities, with same-day echocardiograms available if further investigation is needed.
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Karen Campbell recently spoke about her son and the impact of screening in a BBC Radio Tees interview alongside Dr Cox.
Many who are identified through screenings are referred to CRY’s consultant cardiologist, Professor Sanjay Sharma, and his team at St George’s Hospital in London or to a local inherited cardiac conditions centre.
While not all cases can be detected, CRY points to Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, and the incidence of young sudden cardiac death has decreased by 89 per cent.