Tonbridge Angels can today confirm that their initial target of raising £28,000 in their Football Fightback campaign has been reached which means that all the planned screenings this year of 800 young people to detect possible heart defects can now go ahead.

Within the past seven years two Angels players have died through such causes, the second actually on a football pitch and as a result the club decided that this simply mustn't happen again.

Chairman of Tonbridge Angels Steve Churcher said: "This is a truly magnificent effort but it doesn't stop here. Targets are made to be broken and we shall as a club act as a touch point for raising further funds and spreading the word throughout the South East's sporting community and if possible further afield. We have been tremendously encouraged by the amount of support we have received from organisations and individuals who have made contributions both large and small. Every donation counts towards making sure the deaths of Jack and Junior will not have been in vain."

The first screening took place over the weekend of 9/10 January at Longmead, the football club's base, with not only Angels players taking part but also members of the West Kent Sunday League, Tonbridge & District Football League and Tonbridge Juniors FC. All Tonbridge Angels members and their families who qualified by age also received invitations.

A further screening weekend took place at Gillingham FC on 20/21 February, with another at Sevenoaks Town FC over the weekend 9/10 April. More will follow later in 2016 and 2017 including a weekend back at Tonbridge.

The Football Fightback campaign has received significant support and advice from the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) which promotes the prevention of young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research together with the provision of support for affected families.

Anyone wanting to donate to the Football Fightback campaign and help prevent unnecessary sudden death amongst young people can visit https://www.justgiving.com/footballfightback to make a contribution.
Updated 09:04 - 8 Apr 2016 by Jim Rowe