Grieving Shropshire parents' heartfelt campaign
A grieving Shropshire couple are appealing for help in their fundraising campaign to stop youngsters in the county losing their lives to undiagnosed heart conditions.
Sue and Chris Dewhirst's 17-year-old son Matthew died last year from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.
The couple from St Martins near Oswestry have launched a fundraising drive to pay for screening days where expert cardiologists test the public for any underlying heart problems.
Two of the screening days they have organised will be held at Ellesmere College next year.
Matthew was a popular pupil at the college and was taking part in fitness sessions during the school holidays in July last year when he died. The couple have organised a series of fundraising events to pay for the screening days.
A sponsored row will be on September 7 at the Boathouse in Ellesmere.
Mrs Dewhirst said: "Matthew was a very fit young man, who loved playing rugby. These screening day can save lives, can prevent this happening."
She added: "The screening days are open to everybody and you go along and an expert cardiologist looks for any problems. If you are diagnosed it does not mean you have to live your life like a couch potato. You can still live an active life, may even be able to play sport but you may have to change your lifestyle. Screening is vital."
The parents' fundraising has been backed by another Shropshire couple Tom and Judy Green, of Market Drayton, who lost their son Adam in February last year when he collapsed in the family home. He was only 18.
Mr Green said: "We too have been fundraising to meet the cost of screening days."
