Release Date: 05/09/2011

Author: By Jessica de Largy

Irish FA Child/Welfare Ambassador, and Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) Patron, Jonny Evans took time out from his preparations for the upcoming home match against Serbia in order to launch a poster campaign that delivers a very important message to young footballers and their parents/guardians: “Use your head and check your heart.”

The posters, which have been devised by CRY Northern Ireland and the IFA’s Child and Player Welfare Department, will be distributed to football clubs and centres throughout Northern Ireland in order to raise awareness about the importance of cardiac screening for young people.

Cardiac abnormalities can exist in young people without them presenting any symptoms, and, very tragically, at least 12 apparently ‘fit and healthy’ young people die each week of undiagnosed heart conditions in the UK.

Although sport itself does not lead to a cardiac arrest, it can act as a trigger for a young person to die suddenly by exacerbating the undetected condition.  Cardiac screening through a simple Electrocardiogram (ECG) can help diagnose conditions such as cardiomyopothies or electrical faults of the heart.

CRY NI representative John Lundy thanked Jonny Evans for his support as CRY Patron and revealed details of the CRY Screening programme for 2012: “We are very grateful to Jonny for his support.  He is a real role model to young people and he has been a great supporter of CRY.

We have organised nine screening weekends across the country from Jordanstown to Derry and Coleraine to Newry.  In addition to the three remaining screenings this calendar year, that means we will be able to screen 1800 people from across Northern Ireland in the next year or so.

Any clubs, teams, schools or other organisations have the opportunity now to plan ahead and get their young people screened.  There are still a small number of places on the screening clinic for this weekend at Jordanstown, on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September.”

Irish FA Child and Player Welfare Ambassador and CRY patron, Jonny Evans, added: “I am pleased to be able to support CRY’s campaign for cardiac screening and for a greater awareness of cardiac conditions. Young people need to look after themselves and understand more about their health.  I hope that my position as Irish FA Child and Player Welfare Ambassador and CRY patron will encourage kids to do as the poster campaign suggests- use your head and check your heart. ” 

Jessica de Largy, IFA Child and Player Welfare Officer, also commented: “The Irish FA’s Child and Player Welfare Department is delighted to work alongside CRY to help raise awareness about the importance of cardiac screening.  We are hopeful that Jonny’s message will encourage young people throughout the province to think about their health and register with CRY to get screened for cardiac abnormalities.”

CRY NI Screening dates are as follows:

26 & 27 November- Jordanstown   9 & 10 June- Jordanstown

28 & 29 January- Newry    21 & 22 July- Derry

18 & 19 February- Jordanstown   1 & 2 September- Coleraine

10 & 11 March- Coleraine   6 & 7 October- Jordanstown

12 & 13 May- Jordanstown   10 & 11 November- Jordanstown

For further information please visit www.c-r-y.org.uk/ni.htm

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