Story By AMANDA CHALMERS

A pioneering screening programme to identify undiagnosed heart conditions in ​the young was attended by more than 100 young people in Sutton Coldfield, ​Birmingham – and potentially saved three lives.

The event, run by CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), follows funding from the ​local Wylde Green Rotary Club – and fund-raising by friends and family of ​Anthony Lane, from Rugby, who died suddenly of cardiac arrest aged just 26.

It is a project particularly personal to the Rotary club’s Immediate Past President ​Paul Lane, from Lichfield, who is also Anthony’s father.

Paul said: “Penny and I are very grateful for the support on the day of our family, ​friends and members of the Rotary Club of Wylde Green together with funding ​from the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust.

“It was, for us, a day of emotional highs and lows and we were totally humbled by ​the huge support we have and continue to receive from everyone who learns of ​Anthony’s story. 

“This would make him very proud, we have potentially saved at least three young ​lives but have also continued the quest of the CRY charity, and all the other ​bereaved families who are affected, to increase awareness.”

The screening day, hosted free of charge by Sutton Coldfield Town Football Club, ​is to become the first of many for the area, thanks to Rotary grants and ​fundraising campaigns headed up by Paul.

It was attended by Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell and Wylde Green ​Councillor Alex Yip and his wife, deputy mayor Cindy Yip as well as Rotary District ​Governor Denzil Williams and Assistant Governor Sushil Nand.

CRY, which was adopted as Wylde Green Rotary Club’s charity of the year, works ​to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and ​research and supporting affected families – something he and his family have ​been very grateful for.

Paul, who has been a Rotarian for 20 years, added: “One Saturday morning in ​October 2022 Anthony was on his turbo trainer bike at home, exercising alone. ​His partner returned home after shopping to find him unresponsive on the floor. ​West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance attended but ​unfortunately Anthony had already passed away.

“It is believed that Anthony had an undiagnosed heart condition, from which he ​had no symptoms. This led us to CRY and we learned more about the research ​they're doing and their lobbying of politicians to try and get the UK government ​to test young people between the ages of 14 and 34.

“It is likely that Anthony’s heart ‘short-circuited’ and went into a lethal arrhythmia ​called ventricular fibrillation that causes sudden cardiac death if not treated ​immediately with CPR and defibrillation.”

A talented mechanical engineer, Anthony was proud to land his dream job within ​the Formula One industry at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in ​Northamptonshire, after graduating from Birmingham University in 2019.

Every week in the UK, around 12 young people, between ages of 14 and 35, die ​suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. 80% of these deaths ​will occur with no prior symptoms.

CRY uses a very simple, effective and non-invasive way of diagnosing most ​cardiac abnormalities. It is a quick, painless and affordable procedure called an ​electrocardiogram (ECG), which is reviewed by a specially trained medic. If a ​young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will also swiftly refer them for ​Echocardiogram screening (ultrasound) and ongoing, more in-depth ​investigations, as necessary.

Further grant support from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust has now ensured ​there is enough money to fund nine annual screening sessions in the town at a ​cost of £6,500.

CRY’S CEO Dr Steven Cox said: “Once again, I’d like to extend my thanks to the ​Wylde Green Rotary Club and the wider local community for raising the funds for ​this first cardiac screening session, in memory of Anthony Lane.

“This tremendous, ongoing support will ensure that our team will be able to ​return to the area again, to test the hearts of more and more young people, ​ensuring that underlying heart conditions in young people, aged between 14 and ​35, can be identified and treated. Together, we can save young lives.”

Paul Lane added: “Anthony was a perfectly healthy young person who, like all ​young people, didn't go to the doctor and who thought he was invincible. One ​minute he was perfectly fit on his turbo trainer, the next minute he’s gone.

“It is so tragic that this happened but we like to think of this project as a lasting ​memorial to him. As far as Rotary is concerned, this is doing two things - it is ​potentially saving young lives and, from a purely selfish standpoint, is promoting ​Rotary.”

Support Anthony’s friends in their next fundraiser.