A WEEKEND of cardiac screening for young people takes place in Prestonpans next month in memory of a young cycling champion who passed away from a progressive disease of the heart muscles in 2018.

Ben Forsyth was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in 2015 and passed away on July 1, 2018.

The 20-year-old, a former Musselburgh Grammar School pupil and member of Edinburgh Road Club (RC) cycling club, won the British youth circuit race championship in 2013.

He was studying geography at the University of Edinburgh at the time of his death.

Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) was due to hold screenings in East Lothian two years ago but all appointments were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

CRY offers subsidised ECG (electrocardiogram) screening to all young people between the ages of 14 and 35.

Now, the Forsyth family have confirmed that three days of screenings will take place in April in Prestonpans and Berwick.

Ben’s dad Keith said in a statement on Facebook: “After the disappointment of the cancelled CRY screening days over the last two years, we are delighted to announce that we have three days of screenings coming up in April.

“This is the result of all the fantastic fundraising efforts of many family and friends over the past three-and-a-half years in memory of our amazing Ben.

“A huge thank you to those who have supported and donated.”

Two days of screenings will take place on April 23 and 24 at Preston Lodge High School, and a further day of screening will take place on April 26 at Berwick Rugby Club in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Visit testmyheart.org.uk for more information.