A couple who lost their son to a hidden heart condition have delivered cardiac testing equipment to a doctor's surgery.

Maralyn and Kenny Bowen, of Redcar, have worked tirelessly to support national charity CRY ( Cardiac Risk in the Young ), following the sudden death of their son Ian in October 1996.

Ian had Wolfe-Parkinson-White Syndrome - an extra electrical connection in the heart and one of several conditions which can lead to Sudden Death Syndrome.

Desperate to prevent other parents suffering the same devastating loss, Kenny and Maralyn have raised funds to bring a specialist medical team from London to carry out specialist screening for families who feel they may be at risk..

And now their donation to Redcar's Coatham Surgery of an electrocardiogram ECG machine means more people can be tested for potential heart problems.

The £5000 machine was bought by the Ian Bowen Memorial Fund.

Maralyn said: "Doctors at the Redcar practice can use the ECG machine to test their patients for cardiac problems.

"We are pleased it has gone to a practice in Redcar, as it is local people who have helped to raise funds to provide it.

"We're continuing our fundraising as we're hoping to bring the specialist team from London back for more screening sessions next year."

Barbara Smith, Coatham Surgery practice manager, said: "This equipment is a very valuable addition to the surgery.

"It is much appreciated and we are very grateful to Kenny, Maralyn and CRY for thinking of us."

Maralyn and Kenny's fundraising and campaigning  with CRY was recently recognised with a Champion for Youth award in the Community Champions Awards 2002.

CRY is campaigning for all children to be screened for cardiac problems before they leave school.  The charity also offers support to families who have suffered a loss of a young person and young people diagnosed with cardiac conditions.