Brentford FC and partners look back and beyond on cardiac health awareness and Heart of West London campaign.

The neighbouring club hosted an event on Tuesday, 13 August in collaboration with its Trust, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), and Resuscitation Council UK to celebrate the lives saved through cardiac health promotion in west London. 

Launched in 2022 after former Technical Director Robert Rowan died of a fatal cardiomyopathy episode in 2018, Heart of West London (HoWL) has since managed to carry out more than a 1,000 potentially life-saving heart screenings to young people across Brentford and two venues in Scotland. 

"Sitting in the stadium (Gtech Communtiy Stadium) for a home game and seeing all the Heart of West London logos come up and knowing we contributed towards that and that we actually made a difference in people's lives...it is worth its weight in gold," admitted Suzanne Rowan, Robert Rowan's wife. 

(From left to right) Suzanne Rowan, Dt Steven Cox, Dr Sabiha Gati, Dr Richard Bowyer, Dr James Cant, Emily Donovan and Greig Mailer (credit: David Cliff/Brentford FC).

According to the British Heart Foundation and Department of Health, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) kills an estimated 100,000 people each year in the UK. 

Consultant Cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital, Dr Sabiha Gati, told the audience that nationwide heart screening programme should be rolled out as tests are cheap, practical and can identify up to 60% of cases. 

Analysing data, Dr Gati says the key message to take away was that in young people "80% (of cardiac arrest) occurred during exercise and 80% have no symptoms prior to their second cardiac arrest." 

The consultant cardiologist explained: "I want us to consider the impact that sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death has on a young individual.  

"What about the number of young lives lost and shame? What about the impact on family? What about the worry caused to siblings and parents for their other children...a lot needs to be done, there is room for more work." 

Raymond Harrison a lifelong Bees supporter experienced a cardiac arrest at the Gtech Community Stadium before a fixture against Newcastle last season (credit: David Cliff/Brentford FC).

CRY finds that every week in the UK, 12 healthy young people will collapse and die suddenly from previously undiagnosed heart conditions. 

"We are very much driven as an organisation to try and prevent young sudden deaths, the horrendous impacts these tragedies have on families and communities," said Dr Steven Cox, CEO of CRY. 

"We think every young person from the age of 14 should have the option to have their heart tested.  

"This will happen at the highest level in sport If you become an elite athlete, professional footballer. It's mandatory," added Dr Cox. 

Brentford FC Communtiy Trust staff teaching a guest how to administer CPR (credit: David Cliff/Brentford FC).

This is why HoWL has aimed to save young lives through its QR codes on Brentford FC shirts, which teach people how to administer CPR in minutes, why it has encouraged young people in west London to get their heart screened and ultimately why it raises awareness of cardiac health. 

Reflecting on how far the club's initiative has come, Brentford FC Director, Nity Raj said: "We (Brentford FC) started out wanting to do something in Rob's memory along with Rob's friends and family and Suzanne his wife. 

"We wanted it to be more than just put his name on the side of a building - the reality is we did put his name on the side of the building, the Robert Rowan Performance Centre is now something we are very proud of because that is where he worked, but we get to do something much more important now. We save lives." 

To find out more about Brentford FC and HoWL, click here.

If you are interested in learning more about a cardiac health screening (an ECG) and are between the ages of 14 & 35, click here.