Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation has screened its 10,000th heart on the Isle of Man.

The 10,000th heart was screened during the charity’s free heart screening programme at Noble’s Hospital.

A spokesperson for the charity said: ‘On Sunday morning Tristan Caley entered the hospital for his heart screening that he was booked in for.

‘Unknown to him, he was about to check in at the front desk as heart screening number 10,000 in what is a significant milestone for the charity.’

The Craig Heartstrong Foundation, which was set up in memory of local footballer Craig Lunt, has been bringing qualified technicians and doctors from the charity ‘Cardiac Risk in the Young’ (CRY) to the island for the last 16 years.

These doctors aim to detect any heart problems in young men and women on the island, a service that is offered completely free of charge to the public.

The chairman of the charity, Paul Healey BEM, said: ‘This is a momentous day for Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation.

‘All these years after our first ever heart screening in the Palace Hotel, here we are in the fantastic surroundings of Nobles Hospital with screening number 10,000.

‘It just goes to show how amazing the support we have had has been over the years to allow us to continue providing this free service.

‘From building cages in the hotels to now being given access to the suites at nobles, we have to thank Manx Care for making these weekends so easy for us.

‘When we started screening we never thought we would be hitting these numbers, but now we can’t wait to hit 20,000!’

During the most recent heart screenings, 368 men and women between the ages of 14 and 35 had a free heart screening, with 15 people found to have problems.

Charity secretary, Luke Murray, added: ‘We just want to thank everyone who booked on and attended this weekend. ‘We provide a free service and to see such a huge take up 
really makes all the work worthwhile.

‘The people that have been found with problems are now aware of their situation and can be treated accordingly’.

Next year will see another two heart screening weekends take place in April and September.

Screenings can be booked two months prior to the events.

If you wish to learn more, you can visit http://craigsheartstrongfoundation.co.uk.