TOBE-Heartsafe partners with Forest School in 2025 to help save lives
Every day, strong and healthy young people die suddenly from heart conditions they didn’t know they had. Not-for-profit organisation TOBE-Heartsafe tobe-heartsafe.org.uk is on a mission to provide cardiac screening, CPR training and defibrillators for schools and sports clubs, and is pleased to once again partner with Forest School offering cardiac screening for their pupils aged 14 years and upwards this May, and again in June 2025.
The team at Forest School and parents have been particularly supportive of the programme because of a very personal story with one of their families – Mother Ann and her son Lewis – who confirmed that the screening from three years ago saved her son’s life.
Ann says: “In February 2025 my son – Lewis – underwent 7 hours cardiac surgery at Barts. There was no other course of action. Please do not take this as a sorry tale, it is in fact one of joy. I must admit it has been a rollercoaster; his surgeon told my rugby-playing son that they usually see his condition in autopsy.
“I only booked the screening to rule out his heart as he had been diagnosed with asthma and kept complaining that the inhalers were not working. I will be honest, he didn’t want to attend the screening, so I bribed him with a takeaway, he didn’t want me to go in with him, so I was left in the car like an Uber driver. It was worth it. His consultant was so impressed by his independence that rather than going to Great Ormond Street he stayed at Barts. Christmas Eve we were in Barts and he decided without hesitation that he wanted the surgery so he could be fixed and attend university with all his friends in September, he is on track.
“I know he’s my son and he was a scholarship Forester, but this is a new level of admiration for his bravery and determination. I bless both Forest for having the foresight to offer this service and the extraordinary St Bartholomew’s Cardiac team.”
TOBE’s team of expert cardiologists from St Barts Hospital lead the screening alongside specialist cardiac physiologists and nurses. The on-site screening of a BP check and 12 lead ECG aims to detect any underlying cardiac condition and the cardiologist’s expertise is essential to reduce incidence and differentiate between pathological and physiological cardiac changes – particularly for those involved in sport.
Avril Lincoln, Health & Safety at Forest School: “Every week, seemingly healthy young people tragically lose their lives to undiagnosed heart conditions. This screening is a vital opportunity to detect hidden cardiac issues in 14–35-year-olds—potentially saving lives. We’re thrilled to welcome back TOBE Heartsafe to our school community providing cardiac screening appointments for pupils and members of our wider school family.
“Appointments were snapped up for the first session in May, so we added a second date, the 7th June to give more people the opportunity to book. On their first visit this year, 70 young people were screened and we are happy the team are returning in June. Due to the high demand for appointments, we are also planning for TOBE Heartsafe to return in Michaelmas 2025,” confirms Avril.
Sam Richards, co-founder of TOBE-Heartsafe says: “We know that early diagnosis is key and healthy young people undertaking extreme training are at extra risk. Early detection can avoid tragedy but can also extend careers. Thanks to the wonderful partnership with Forest School not only are we able to screen their pupils, but we are able to raise awareness about the importance of screening as well as the importance of basic life support training. We would encourage schools and sports clubs to get in touch if they would like to know more about our programmes as well as our community spaces from our fundraising efforts.”