Free teen heart checks will be offered at the Flint Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Participants must pre-register by calling 810-262-9260 in order to attend.

When calling, press option one for registration information.

Registration lines are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

For more information, visit www.TommysHeart.org.

The registration packet can be printed from the site.

Hurley Children’s Hospital provides the screenings along with the Thomas Smith Memorial Foundation.

The Smith family’s foundation honors its son, Thomas, who died due to an undetected heart ailment.

On Jan. 29, 2011, Flushing High School senior Thomas Smith suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

Thomas played many sports, including football and track, and cardiac arrests are often caused from strenuous physical activity.

His parents, Mr. Johnathon Smith and Mrs. Mary Smith, were unaware that Thomas suffered from cardiomegaly, an enlarged heart with thickened muscles.

Now his parents dedicate a great deal of time to the foundation, in memory of their son, to help detect heart ailments in other teens so no family has to suffer their same loss.

Senior Sadie Farrington believes that this free heart check should be taken advantage of.

“I think it is important for all teens to get their heart checked regularly because it is better to catch a problem early on than too late,” Farrington said.