Latest heart screening event a success as more than 200 folk attend
MORE than 200 people attended a free heart screening event in Lerwick at the weekend.
The screenings took place at the Clickimin Leisure Complex for people aged 14 to 35 and were carried out by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, whose team of eight travelled to Shetland from the mainland.
It also featured a significant milestone when the 1,000th person was screened since Shetland Heart Screening’s first event in 2022.
Shetland Heart Screening is made up of three committee members: Siobhan Pirie, Fern Johnson and Andrea Laurenson.
The group formed a few years ago when Pirie’s husband John unexpectedly passed away in 2017 at the age of just 29 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.
They said the screening events are made possible thanks to a fundraising drive in the community, as well as support from some local sponsors.
The group added that each event costs more than £14,000, so “fundraising is a crucial part of enabling us to provide these free screenings”.
They also wished to thank NorthLink, Bolts Car Hire and the Clickimin for sponsorship and support for the 2026 event.
The next screening event is due to take place on 5 and 6 June 2027 and the team are on track to secure 2028 in the near future.
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