Two years ago Martin Parr, delivery manager in Leek, had the most terrible and unexpected phonecall of his life.
The emergency services were calling to say his wife Dianne had been unable to wake his son Christopher, pictured. He had passed away in his sleep aged just 21 with no obvious or conclusive cause of death.
Sudden death
Martin says: ‘We soon came to learn that Chris had died of what is known as SADS - Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. This takes the lives of up to 12 fit and healthy young men and women every week.’
Since Chris’s death, Martin’s close friends and family have been raising funds for the charity CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young.
Martin says: ‘We have now raised enough money for two days of heart screenings for those aged 14 to 35.’
Thanks to Martin and friends’ hard work, the screenings are taking place on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 September at Leek Cricket Club, Highfield.
Changing the law
Martin says: ‘The aim is to raise awareness of this issue.
‘Ultimately we want to get a law passed that will make screening compulsory for children aged 14 and over.’