Approaching the third anniversary of his death, the family of David Hill, a Dumfries man who died whilst playing rugby from an undiagnosed heart condition, were pleased to release details of the next screening days on 12th and 13th April at The Cairndale Hotel and Spa in Dumfries. Within two hours on being released on social media, all 200 available appointments were booked out.
Since David’s death in March 2022, the David Hill Memorial Fund has now raised over £75,000 which has allowed David’s family to organise 800 free cardiac screenings in Dumfries on
- 18th/19th May 2024
- 12th/13th April 2025
- 14th/15th June 2025 (Kirkcudbright)
- 13th/14th September 2025
The family are already planning dates for 2026.
David’s father, Rodger Hill said “We are blown away by the speed that these screenings booked up. This clearly demonstrates that there is a very real need for screening in Dumfries and Galloway. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us in our fundraising and awareness raising campaigns.
We, and CRY, believe that every young person from the age of 14 (up until the age of 35) should have access to free, expert cardiac screening and that young people and their parents should be given a choice to be screened.
We will continue our campaign to urge the Government to radically re-think its approach to specialist cardiac screening in the UK in order to reduce the incidence of young people dying from the often-preventable conditions that can cause sudden cardiac death in young people.
Since David’s death, three years ago, over 1800 families have had to experience the pain, anguish and grief that we have had. That is a pain that is preventable with screening”
David collapsed whilst playing a cross-party rugby match for Holyrood against Dail and Seanad XV at the Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin as part of the Parliamentary Six Nations. He was aged just 30.
Originally from Dumfriesshire, David worked for several MSPs during his time at Holyrood and at the time of his death he had been working for Jamie Greene MSP. David’s popularity and hardworking reputation led to him being posthumously named Parliamentary Staffer of the Year in September 2022 at the Holyrood Magazine Awards.
Every week in the UK, around 12 young people (that are aged 35 and under) die suddenly from a previously diagnosed heart condition. 80% of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms – which is why CRY is so committed to the importance of specialist cardiac screening.
Dr Steven Cox, Chief Executive of CRY adds: “
“As ever, on behalf of all of us at CRY, I would like to say a huge “thank you” to David’s family and everyone involved with the David Hill Memorial Fund – their ongoing fundraising and awareness efforts are making such an incredible impact to the level of cardiac screening we’re delivering for young people in Scotland.
“This year marks 30 years since CRY was launched – with a vision to reduce young sudden cardiac death through screening and research – and it’s only due to the support of families, such as David’s, that we’ve been able to grow our nationwide screening programme to the extent that we’ve now tested over 315,000 young hearts. One in every 300 of those tested by CRY will be found to have a hidden heart condition which, if left untreated or unmonitored, could cause a fatal cardiac arrest. We know that screening saves lives. We also know that we desperately need a new, Governmental strategy to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths – and this is an area that David’s friends, family and former colleagues have been so proactive in campaigning for, too.
“It’s great to see another screening session taking place in April – and it’s no surprise that places were booked so swiftly due to the high levels of awareness raised. Thank you – you’re all doing amazing work in memory of David.”
CRY also funds pioneering research into the conditions that can cause young sudden cardiac death as well as providing a unique bereavement support network for all families who have been affected. CRY’s screening programme currently tests around 30,000 young people (aged 14-35) every year in the UK (and has screened over 315,000 young people in total, to date).
One in every 300 of the young people that CRY tests, will be identified with a potentially life- threatening condition.
Regional, community screenings are usually funded by families who have been affected by a young sudden cardiac death, so there is no charge to the individual when CRY’s mobile cardiac screening service is bought to a local school, sports club or community venue.
CRY uses a very simple, effective and non-invasive way of diagnosing most cardiac abnormalities. It is a quick, painless and affordable procedure called an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is reviewed by a specially trained medic. If a young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will also swiftly refer them for Echocardiogram screening (ultrasound) and ongoing, more in-depth investigations, as necessary.
Although heart screening won’t identify all young people at risk, in Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, they have reduced the incidence of young sudden cardiac death by 89%. This is because sport – whilst it does not actually cause sudden cardiac death – can significantly increase a young person’s risk if they have an underlying condition.
