KNUTSFORD First Responders are funding free heart screening for 100 Knutsford Academy students on April 2.

Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people lose their lives to sudden cardiac death in the UK.

Eighty per cent of these apparently healthy young people who die from young sudden cardiac death will have shown no previous sign of heart defects until it is too late.

If there has been a young (under 35) sudden death in the family, the family is entitled to be screened on the NHS, but otherwise routine screening is not available.

Knutsford First Responders have fundraised with help from Knutsford Academy to fund the screening day, which is delivered by the charity CRY.

The Knutsford First Responders have now screened more than 500 people in Knutsford and are raising money for the next screening, which will be held in 2020 at the Knutsford Academy and will be available to all students of the school aged 14 or older.

A total of £5,000 is needed to fund this event, to donate visit heartstartknutsford.co.uk

James Routs from Knutsford Multi-Academy Trust said: “We are extremely grateful for the support from Knutsford Community First Responders, who are paying for the delivery of this day, which will see 100 of our students benefit from the heart screen and peace of mind this provides.

“This is second year the heart screen day has been provided to the school and on both occasions it has been fully booked in a few days, highlighting what an invaluable opportunity this is.”

Knutsford First Responders are looking for people to step forward with their stories relating to its services.