Brentford SportsFEST hosts a special heart screening in memory of Brentford FC’s Sporting Director Robert Rowan
As part of the Brentford SportsFEST event last Sunday, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust hosted a special heart screening with the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). Held at the Hilton Syon Park, more than 80 young people benefited from the heart screening and no cardiac abnormalities were detected among the people screened.
The screening was established in memory of Brentford FC’s Sporting Director Robert Rowan, whose life was tragically cut short in November 2018 when he suffered a fatal cardiomyopathy episode at only 28 years of age. Every week in the UK, around 12 young people (under the age of 35) die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. 80% of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms.
Robert Rowan’s wife, Suzanne, recently took part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon and raised nearly £25,000 for CRY.
Speaking about the screening last Sunday, she said:
“I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to Rob than today’s event, which brought together Brentford FC, its Community Sports Trust and the charity CRY.
“Along with nearly 80 people benefiting from the heart screening, we have also helped raise awareness of cardiac risk amongst young people at a local level.”
This view was echoed by local MP Rupa Huq who attended the event and advocated for more awareness surrounding Cardiac Risk amongst young people, she said:
“Robert Rowan was a constituent of mine and I came along today to show solidarity with Suzanne. It was such a tragedy that he was taken so young at 28 and this condition is the biggest killer that not many people know about.
“This is a brilliant initiative that Brentford and CRY have put on today – teaming up with local medics who do this out of the goodness of their heart on a Sunday.”
The heart screening was part of Brentford Spots FEST, which offers a number of sporting activities for the local community at the iconic Syon Park. Read more about the event here.
