Local mum Lesley Mease lost her son, Wilson, to a sudden cardiac death 2.5 years ago. Since then she’s been working tirelessly to fund and put on ECG screenings for as many young people as she can, so that other parents won’t have to go through the same thing. I’m a mum first a foremost, and I’m in awe of Lesley’s strength and the important work she is doing.
Cardiac risk isn’t always obvious – Wilson was a fit and healthy 25-year-old who trained for triathlons and half-marathons. I met with Lesley again recently to talk about how we can get ECG screenings for as many young people as possible.
I support the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) call for ECG screenings in the young, and hope that the independent National Screening Committee will be looking carefully at the evidence after the consultation into sudden cardiac death screening in young people that will be opening soon.
Lesley puts on ECG screenings for those under 39 when she has raised enough money to do so. She currently relies on donations from the public for CRY for Wilson. If you’d like to donate, you can at https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/wilson-shepherd/
