Grieving Shropshire mother taking health campaign to MPs

A Shropshire mother whose teenage son died from an undiagnosed heart complaint will be taking her campaign for better health screening to the House of Commons later this month.

Chris and Sue Dewhirst, of St Martins, whose son, Matthew, died of an undiagnosed heart condition. They are now campaigning for better health screening.

Sue Dewhirst, from St Martins, has been invited to attend a reception hosted at Westminster by the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

Mrs Dewhirst is now the charity's official representative for Shropshire after becoming involved in the group's work following the tragic loss of her 17-year-old son Matthew.

Rugby-mad Matthew Dewhirst died last year at the age of 17 after a fitness training session

Rugby-mad Matthew died from an undiagnosed heart condition last year after a fitness training session.

Mrs Dewhirst and her husband Chris have been fundraising for CRY as a tribute to their son.

CRY has been campaigning for better health screening at schools, colleges and by sports teams so heart conditions can be picked up before it is too late.

Mrs Dewhirst said she would be attending to House of Commons on November 27 to represent Shropshire.

She said the recognition is the next step in the couple's campaign to spread the word about the importance of heart screening.

Mrs Dewhirst said: "We are still needing to raise awareness throughout the country and I have started doing assembly talks to students so they become aware and also to make them realise how important it is that they learn CPR in school, as this reduces the death risk by 50 per cent.

"I'm at Ellesmere College tomorrow talking to 20 school nurses about the role of CRY and what schools can do to minimize the risks to their students."

Mrs Dewhirst said final plans were being made for a fundraising function later this month called the CRY for Matthew Ball.

She said: "It's at the Albrighton Hall Hotel at Shrewsbury for 180 people.

"We're holding a raffle where a golfing holiday in Spain has been donated along with wine from Tanners and gifts from Sainsbury in Whitchurch." she added.

"An auction will be led by Christina Trevanion of Flog It fame who now works for Charles Hansen's auction rooms.

"Bill Beaumont, himself an Old Ellesmerian, has donated a signed England rugby shirt to go with a suit voucher from Pockets of Shrewsbury, afternoon tea for two at Dearnford Lake and a 'Diamond' Experience from Boodles of Chester.

"All seats are taken but raffle tickets are on sale and sealed bids can still be taken for the auction," added Mrs Dewhirst.

To find out more information e-mail mail@suedewhirst .co.uk or call on (01691) 774090.