A rugby player and fitness fanatic is urging people to see their doctors after being diagnosed with a heart murmur and leaky valve at a charity heart screening event.

Kieran Ritchie, 27, who runs, spends time in the gym and plays rugby, discovered he had a heart murmur and leaky heart valve when he was one of 101 sportspeople who took part in a charity heart screening programme in Maryport.

The charity Sid8 was set up last year after the death of Paul “Sid” Robinson, from Flimby, who played rugby for Ellenborough and, as a semi-professional, with Cumbria’s Border Raiders.

His premature death led to the establishment of Sid8, a charity giving fit athletes the chance to undergo heart screening which would help with the early detection of heart problems young and seemingly fit people. The charity raised £6,000 which allowed them to offer heart screening to 101 sports men and women at Netherhall Sports Centre last weekend.

Gary Murdoch, from the charity, said five people received further testing after the screening and at least one was found to have a fairly serious problem. Kieran, from Aspatria, was one of those five

“I’ve had an irregular heartbeat all my life,” he said.

“My parents have talked about it but it has never bothered me and never stopped me from my sport and fitness. In the past few weeks I have had some pain and was starting to worry. I thought I should go to the doctor but put it off. I think sometimes you are afraid to go because you don’t want to hear anything bad.”

He said when he was invited to take part in the Sid8 heart screening he jumped at the chance.

“We all went through screening. The whole thing only lasted about 15 minutes and people left.

“When I was asked to stay behind I was worried. You wonder what is wrong.”

He said he said he underwent further tests and saw a doctor who told him he had the heart murmur and leaky valve.

“I was very relieved. The condition won’t stop me from playing sport, which was my biggest worry.

“I have been really lucky. It turns out that this is not serious and that the pains I have been having have nothing to do with my heart.”

But he said he was grateful that Sid8 had given him the chance to check out his hear.

“An it has shown me – go to the doctor if you are worried. You may find, like me, that you have nothing to worry about – and if there is something it can be treated quicker.”

Due to it’s importance, Allerdale mayor John Crouch, has adopted the foundation as one of his charities this year.

He said: “I’m really pleased to be able to help everyone involved with the Sid8 Foundation raise the money they need to do something which is so worthwhile and provides such a valuable service to the local sporting community.”