UP TO seven previously undiagnosed heart conditions could have been discovered as young people underwent tests in memory of a teenager who died.
More than 100 14 to 35 year olds were given the test by specialists Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in the Cornerstone, Didcot, on Saturday.
Seven people were identified as requiring further investigation with one referred direct to hospital, three referred to their GPs and three asked to repeat the test in six months.
Mum Beth Chesney-Evans, who organised the event after her son Guy Evans died from a heart arrhythmia, said it showed the importance of young people getting tested for the condition which is difficult to detect.
She said: "Of course we'd have preferred it if everyone was found to be healthy but it underlies the importance of events like this.
"We have potentially saved lives as early diagnosis is really important.
"Young people are most at risk of this - after 35 the number of cases goes right down
"Hopefully we have inspired a few more to get themselves tested, if they get the opportunity.
She added: "The only sign we had that anything was wrong with Guy was that he was having dizzy spells in the week before he died but teenagers have dizzy spells for all sorts of reasons.
"Even for GPs it is difficult for them to pick up so these types of specialist tests are vital."
Guy, from Long Wittenham, was 17 when his heart suddenly stopped while riding his motorcycle with friends after receiving their AS-Level results 10 years ago.
He suffered no injuries but drifted to the side of the road, keeled over and ended up in the ditch in Featherbed Lane near Didcot.
His family and friends set up a campaigning charity called Heartbeats which has organised for defibrillators to be installed in the village, joined calls to get CPR taught in schools and organised heart tests.
Mrs Chesney-Evans said Saturday's event marked the culmination of everything the group wanted to achieve and now hopes to hand over to others to continue raising awareness.
She said: "I am enormously grateful to all of Guy's friends who have done so much to support the cause.
"They have sold their motorbikes, run half marathons - they have put everything into it.
"It has been so lovely for me to hear how much Guy meant to them.
"They said he was the glue that held the group together and I am touched that glue is still there.
"I feel we have achieved all we set out to do so we are now going to disband the charity. I am so pleased with all we have achieved."
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