Boy's memorial fund enables heart tests for 200

Andrea Joyce set up a memorial fund in memory of her son Kieran, who died at the age of 15 due to an undiagnosed heart condition

Nearly 200 young people have been screened for heart conditions, paid for with money raised in memory of a boy who died in his sleep.

Kieran Joyce, from Herefordshire, was 15 when an undiagnosed heart condition led to his death in 2019.

The Whitecross High School pupil was a talented footballer and played for Hereford FC’s under-16 side, and showed no signs or symptoms that anything was wrong.

Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) said seven of the young people, all aged under 35, at the heart screening event were identified as having cardiac anomalies.

The seven will now be referred for further tests, the charity said.

Kieran's mother Andrea set up the Kieran Joyce Memorial Fund and, with help from friends and family, she has so far raised nearly £100,000 for CRY.

This has paid for a total of 722 young people to be screened to date, with 15 of those identified as having heart anomalies which need further tests and potentially treatment.

Among them was Ella Bowen, younger sister of West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen.

She underwent surgery as a result of a problem that was uncovered during a screening paid for in Kieran’s memory.

The Bowen family subsequently donated one of Jarrod’s match tops, which was auctioned for £5,500 and will pay for a further day of screenings in Herefordshire.

Kieran Joyce was a talented footballer and played for Hereford FC's under-16 side

Ms Joyce said she was “blown away” by the donation from the Bowens.

“We were of course so moved when Sam Bowen posted on our Facebook fundraising page about Ella and the fact that a problem was picked up at one of Kieran’s screenings,” she said.

“This is exactly why we do what we do.”

The CRY screening programme has tested more than 300,000 since it was launched in 1995.

CRY said at least 12 people under the age of 35 who were apparently fit and healthy died each week with a heart problem.

They estimated that 80% of cases could have been identified with screening.

The test is quick, non-invasive and, if necessary, a further test can be taken on the same day to provide further clarity, the charity said.