Point and Sandwick Trust (PST) has awarded £15,000 to support cardiac screening for young people in Lewis through the Andrew Macleod Memorial Fund.
The memorial fund was established by Andrew’s family following his sudden death in 2011 from an undiagnosed heart condition. In partnership with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), the fund supports local screening aimed at identifying potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions before symptoms appear.
Every week in the UK, at least 12 young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions and since 1995, CRY has worked to reduce these deaths through screening, research, specialist services and support for affected families. The organisation also provides bereavement support and works to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death.
In Lewis, screening sessions are delivered at The Nicolson Institute, with around 200 young people seen over a two-day event. Ten screening sessions have taken place to date, with each identifying between two and five people who require further investigation by the NHS per session. The programme relies on NHS physiologists travelling to Stornoway from across the UK, many giving their time in addition to their regular roles. Delivering each event involves transport, accommodation and the coordination of specialist equipment and personnel. The total cost of the two-day screening has now reached £14,400.
Due to funding challenges, the planned 2026 screening was unable to go ahead however, PST’s funding pledge will cover the full cost of the next event, with screening sessions confirmed for 3-4 September 2027.
Duncan Mackay, of Point and Sandwick Trust, said, “The impact of this programme is clear. Year after year, it identifies young people who need further investigation, people who would otherwise have no indication that anything is wrong. Supporting that work is important for the community, and we are pleased to be able to ensure the 2027 screening can go ahead in full.”
Murdo Macleod, who manages the Andrew Macleod Memorial Fund with his wife Dolina said,
“We can never lose sight of why the fund exists but it is very rewarding to see how much the screening means to people. It’s a small team behind Andrew’s memorial fund and generating funding has been a challenge since Covid, so we are extremely grateful to Point and Sandwick Trust for stepping in to allow us to book for 2027. We are also very thankful to Tolsta Community Development Trust for their recent contribution of £4,000 and commitment to supporting our work. We’re continuing conversations with other organisations to help secure the future of screening in Lewis.”
Andrew’s family established the memorial fund to support CRY’s work and help prevent other families experiencing a similar loss. Andrew, from the Isle of Lewis, was serving as an Engineering Cadet in the merchant navy when he died suddenly at the age of 21. His death was later attributed to dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition which had shown no prior symptoms despite routine medicals.
Through the memorial fund, Andrew’s legacy continues to make a lasting difference within the community, supporting early detection, raising awareness, and helping to protect the health of future generations.
Pictured: Catherine Anne Smith and Duncan Mackay of PST with Murdo Macleod on behalf of the Andrew Macleod Memorial Fund.
Credit: SandiePhotos