A Hampshire mother whose son died at 16 will be joined by 40 other women for a run to raise awareness of heart conditions in the young.

Mary Abraham will be runnling in the Flora Light Women’s Challenge in memory of her son Philip, who died in 1995 of Sudden Death Syndrome.

She is appealing to companies and individuals in Hampshire to help her raise money for the charity Cry - Cardiac Risk in the Young - which will go towards an £8,000 ECG machine for a Southampton doctor’s surgery.

The machine, which can detect up to 99 per cent of heart defects - would be bought as part of Cry’s campaign to introduce nationwide heart screening for children and teenagers.

Mary, 53, of Bitterne, Southampton, said:” Sudden Death Syndrome - when there are no signs but the heart just gives up - happens more often than people think. It’s so important that youngsters are screened because heart defects is one of the most com­mon causes of death.

“It would be wonderful if local businesses and local people would sponsor us for our run so we can help prevent more heart deaths among the young in Southampton.”

Mary will be among 41 women and girls from the Bitterne area who are aged from ten to 60 who will be running five kilometres around Hyde Park in London on September 1.

Mary, who last year raised enough for an ECG machine for Bitterne Health Centre in memory of Philip, who went to Weston Park Boys School, added: "They’re all people who know me and a lot of them knew Philip, so it’s very nice to have so much support.”