Mia Jennings Memorial Fund
To Macclesfield, Love Mia
Mia was 19 when she died of a cardiac arrest on 21 January 2023. Her family set up this fund with the charity CRY so that other young people can have their hearts checked.
To Macclesfield, Love Mia gives school leavers at seven Macclesfield schools the chance to have their hearts screened.
2,165 young people screened so far
Why heart screening matters
Every week, 12 young people lose their lives to undiagnosed cardiac conditions. The vast majority of them are perceived as fit and healthy.
Figure from CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
A CRY heart screening is for anyone aged 14 to 35.
If you have fainted during exercise, had chest pain or an unusually racing heart, or a close relative died suddenly and young, please speak to your GP now rather than waiting for a screening date. In an emergency, call 999.
Upcoming screenings
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Mia’s story
Mia grew up in Broken Cross, Macclesfield. She was an HR apprentice, recognised as an outstanding apprentice at both the North East Cheshire Chamber Business Awards and the South Cheshire Chamber Awards, and she had recently achieved her level 3 CIPD certificate.
She also taught hundreds of children to swim at Macclesfield Leisure Centre.
She leaves her parents, James and Louise, and a younger sister and brother.
Mia used to grow sweet peas with her grandpa, and her favourite colour was blue. That’s why you’ll find sweet peas and bluebells on this page.
In her family’s words
Losing a child is a pain that words can never fully describe. The emptiness, heartbreak and longing stay with you in ways that are difficult to explain.
After Mia’s passing, we went to a screening in Bollington to have our other children’s hearts checked, mainly for any inherited conditions. It was run by Cardiac Risk in the Young, a charity we had never heard of. After speaking to another family going through the same as us, we decided to try to make a difference in Mia’s memory.
Raising awareness of Cardiac Risk in the Young is key. Alongside screening, it can help prevent other families from going through this kind of devastating loss.
The memorial fund
Mia’s family set up the fund with CRY. It raises awareness of young sudden cardiac death, supports families affected by it, and pays for CRY’s screening programme and its research and pathology work.
So far, 2,165 young people have been screened through the fund.
Photos or a short video of Mia, chosen by the family, will go here. [PLACEHOLDER: photos with alt text, or a video, from the family]
The Macclesfield project
To Macclesfield, Love Mia gives school leavers at seven Macclesfield schools the chance to be screened. It is made possible by a partnership between Everybody Health & Leisure, Chimp Management Ltd, Mia’s memorial fund and CRY. [VERIFY: a line on what each partner does, and that both are happy to be named. James is checking]
The project launched at Wilmslow Leisure Centre in November [VERIFY: which year]. Professor Steve Peters, best-selling author of The Chimp Paradox, gave his time to talk to more than 500 people in the Evans Theatre, with all proceeds going to the project.
2025 in numbers
-
913
young people screened
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34
needed a GP follow-up after their screening
-
£7,000
pays for 100 screenings
[PLACEHOLDER: any success stories, shared with the young person’s permission]
About CRY and heart screening
What CRY does
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is the charity the fund raises money for. In its own words, its work is:
“Preventing young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research, and supporting affected families.”
What happens at a screening
Screenings are for anyone aged 14 to 35.
Book a place at a public screening through CRY’s
Testmyheart site, or take part when one is
held at your school.
ECG. Small sticky pads on your chest record your heart’s
electrical activity. It takes a few minutes and doesn’t hurt.
Echocardiogram, if needed. An ultrasound scan of the heart.
Most people won’t need one: it’s only done if CRY’s cardiologist asks
for it.
If something is found, the young person is referred to a
cardiologist with experience of the conditions that cause sudden death in the young.
CRY’s screening questions and answers cover results, repeat tests, sport and what happens next.
What it costs
Each screening costs around £70, and a full screening day costs £7,200.
Get involved
Donate to the fund
Everything raised goes to CRY and is recorded against Mia’s fund.
- £70 pays for one young person’s heart screening
- £7,000 pays for 100 screenings
Donations are made through CRY’s own page for Mia’s fund.
Upcoming events
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Past events and fundraising
Hold your own fundraiser
A bake sale, a run or a quiz night can all raise money for the fund. CRY has a fundraising pack to help you get started.
Let us know what you’re planning: [email protected] [VERIFY: contact email]
Volunteer
Help at events, or help organise screenings.
To offer your time, email [email protected] [VERIFY: contact email]
Latest news
Awards, screening results and updates from the family.
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Support and resources
For families
CRY offers dedicated bereavement support to families after the sudden cardiac death of a young person aged 35 or under.
For young people with a heart diagnosis
Being told you have a heart condition can be a lot to take in. You don’t have to work it out alone.
CRY’s myheart network gives personalised help, support and information to young people aged 18 to 35 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition.
Contact
Questions about the fund, a screening or an event? Email us at [email protected] [VERIFY: contact email]
For new screening dates by email, join the mailing list.
[PLACEHOLDER: links to the To Macclesfield Love Mia page, the CRY Macclesfield page and the two CRY pages]
To Macclesfield, Love Mia