The Tim Cogley Cardiac Screening Foundation
We would like to share with you the story behind a relatively new charity that has been set up by the friends and family of Tim Cogley, a much-loved son and brother that sadly passed away in early 2017.
Despite their devastating loss, Tim's friends and family are working hard to bring awareness surrounding Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) with education classes and a special screening programme to identify those at risk. We feel that it is important to ensure that their message is heard far and wide, so after reading the story behind the foundation, we invite you to follow their journey on social media.
The Story Behind the Foundation
On 9th April 2017 Tim Cogley, an apparently fit and healthy 34 year old, suffered a fatal heart attack whilst walking home after a night out with friends. Despite showing no symptoms, Tim had a 75% cholesterol blockage of the left descending coronary artery.
Sadly, Tim’s case is far from unique, and we hear of similar cases among young men and women on a weekly basis, on Merseyside and more widely.
The Tim Cogley Foundation has been set up by family and friends in Tim’s memory with the aim of increasing awareness of the need for coronary heart screening, particularly in the 18 to 40 age group where very little pro-active screening currently takes place, and to offer opportunities for screening within Merseyside.
The Foundation will also promote an educational programme, which by sharing Tim’s story, will illustrate the need to be aware of key health indicators (e.g. blood pressure) in the hope of ensuring that more young people are aware of the lifestyle choices that can affect the health of their hearts.
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary Heart Disease is the leading cause of death across all adult age groups (35+) in the UK (Office for National Statistics, 2016); most of the risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease (cardiovascular disease also affects the coronary arteries of the heart, restricting the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart muscle) however, are also modifiable (e.g. through diet, exercise or other lifestyle interventions and/or with medical intervention).
The screening programme we have launched has been designed, with the support and input from local GPs and other senior clinicians, to identify key biomarkers that help ascertain an individual’s likely risk of developing cardiovascular, including coronary heart disease (CHD).
Cardiac Screening Programmes
In association with Randox Health, The Tim Cogley Cardiac Screening Foundation’s primary aim is to support and enable early identification of individuals aged 18-39, at greater risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). Individuals who have already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) will not be eligible for inclusion in this pre-screening programme and need to continue to be managed by their own GP. This screening programme has been developed in consultation with senior Consultant Cardiologists and General Practitioners across Merseyside and has their support.
The next phase for mobile screenings across Merseyside is set for March 2019 using Randox Health’s mobile donating units in a variety of Liverpool and Wirral locations.
Social Media & Online Support
Website - www.timcogleyfoundation.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/TimCogleyFoundation
Donations -
www.mydonate.bt.com/donation
