ABOUT 100 young people from Abingdon will get free cardiac screenings in memory of a young man from the town who died suddenly.

Just over three years ago, 23-year-old Adam Rowbottom went to sleep one night and never woke up.

The former Larkmead School student’s family found out months later that he had an undetected genetic heart condition – left ventricular non-compaction.

His mother Ulrike Rowbottom, 54, and other family members have since raised £3,500 for 100 free cardiac screenings.

National charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) will hold the screenings at Peachcroft Christian Centre, Lindsay Drive, next Wednesday. All of the places have now been taken, but Mrs Rowbottom urged people to put their names on a waiting list or sign up for another session elswhere.

She said: “It could be the best 10 minutes you ever invested in your life.”

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Mrs Rowbottom added: “My son was a fit, healthy young man, and his heart just stopped.

“This is part of my son’s legacy, I refused to let his death be in vain.

“It is down to me to prevent it happening to others.

“Young people continue to die of undetected heart conditions, and while it is too late for Adam it may not be too late for others.”

People between 14 and 35 will be able to take a quick, simple electrocardiogram (ECG), worth £100, free of charge.

If CRY cardiologists detect an abnormality, the patient will be offered an immediate echocardiogram test, which images the heart.

Doctors will then be able to recommend a type of treatment and refer the person to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, or to St George’s Hospital, London.

In the UK, 12 apparently healthy young people die every week from undiagnosed heart conditions.

Adam, who had a place to study anthropology at the University of East London in September, worked as a sales assistant at Tesco in Marcham Road, Abingdon.

His family have raised thousands of pounds to pay for free screenings.

In March last year, his brother Anthony and friend James Edwards cycled 750 miles from London to Berlin to raise more than £10,000.

Last July, Anthony and three of Adam’s friends joined 1,000 people on a sponsored walk in London.

Mrs Rowbottom, who lives in Mattock Way, Abingdon, said: “The agony that comes with such a tragedy is indescribable, but we are determined Adam’s death must not be in vain.

“He loved and enjoyed life to the fullest and we take comfort and solace in the fact that his legacy helps prevent other families going through a similar tragedy.”

Steven Cox, CRY’s director of screening said: “The death of a young person is heartbreaking and devastating for any family.

“It is essential that anyone with a potentially fatal heart condition knows about it.”

CRY tests 14,000 young people every year.

To put your name on the list in the event of any cancellations at the session or for more information go to testmyheart.org

You can watch a short animation on the impact of young sudden cardiac death at c-r-y.org.uk

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