A PIONEERING screening programme to identify undiagnosed heart conditions in the young – set up in memory of a talented Rugby man – has potentially saved three more lives.
Anthony Lane died in 2022 at the age of 26 when he suffered a cardiac arrest while exercising.
His dad Paul has overseen the third cardiac screening day in his son’s memory.
Out of the 105 people aged 14 to 35 who were tested, three were referred for further investigations – joining the eight potential lives saved at the first two screenings in 2024 and 2025.
The screening day, hosted by Sutton Coldfield Town FC, was the third in what is hoped will be many for the area, thanks to Rotary grants and fundraising campaigns headed up by Paul.
Paul said: “We screened 105 young people and three were referred for further investigations, so a great result.
“As ever, we are indebted to our sponsors – the Rotary Club of Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust and family and friends, as well as Ant’s former colleagues from Mercedes at Brixworth.
“Together with so many bereaved parents that we meet through Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), we strive to continue publicising this issue and hope one day a national screening programme is introduced.”
Anthony was a talented mechanical engineer who landed his dream job at Mercedes F1 in Northamptonshire.
In 2022, Anthony was exercising alone on his turbo trainer bike when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Paul said: “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 35.”
CRY CEO Dr Steven Cox said: “Our screening team was so pleased to return to Sutton Coldfield again, thanks to the incredible and tireless fundraising and awareness work carried out by Paul and Penny Lane, in memory of their son Anthony.
“We never underestimate the courage and strength it takes for bereaved families to see beyond their own devastating grief and to do all they can to prevent another family or individual from ever having to endure a similar tragedy.
“These regional events in the West Midlands are clearly having a real impact and I’d like to express my thanks to all those involved in making them happen.”
CRY uses an electrocardiogram (ECG) – a simple and non-invasive way of diagnosing most cardiac abnormalities which is reviewed by a consultant cardiologist..
If a young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will also then carry out an Echocardiogram screening (ultrasound) and ongoing, more in-depth investigations, as necessary.
Each screening session relies on £6,800 of funding.
Sufficient funds have already been raised to fund a further five annual screening sessions in Sutton Coldfield. The fourth screening day in the town will take place on June 13 next year.
