The family of a young Kirkcaldy man who died from heart failure are to help raise awareness of the disease at a Championship football match on Saturday.
Relatives of Robert Rowan will be at Brentford FC’s ground, Griffin Park, where the work of a charity dedicated to heart screening and research will be promoted.
A collection in aid of Cry (Cardiac Risk in the Young) will also be made ahead of the fixture against Stoke City.
Robert, who was Brentford’s technical director, died aged just 28 following a cardiomyopathy attack in November last year.
The former Celtic scout had been diagnosed with a serious heart condition when he was 15 and his family believe better screening among young people could help save and improve lives.
Representatives of Brentford FC travelled to Robert’s home town to visit his family and friends ahead of Saturday’s match.
They made a 25-minute documentary on his life and legacy, where the importance of screening and diagnosis was made clear.
Robert’s wife Suzanne said: “Looking back, I think Robert was really brave about his condition.
“He didn’t like a fuss and he didn’t like to talk about it because he didn’t fully understand it himself.
“I wanted to tell him it was all going to be okay because that’s what I genuinely believed.”
She added: “It’s important we talk.
“Heart conditions aren’t as uncommon as people might like to think.
“Raising awareness of Cry and making people aware that they can be checked out is really important.”
Robert, who had been football daft since his days at St Marie’s Primary and St Andrews High schools in Kirkcaldy, was described by his devastated family and friends as funny, generous, thoughtful and kind.
Since his death, they have worked tirelessly to raise funds for Cry and have already amassed more than £40,000 for a memorial fund in his honour to provide screening to young people.
Brentford FC have also been doing their bit and in May the club hosted a special heart-screening day with the charity, where more than 80 young people were tested.
