A grieving family has raised thousands of pounds to buy a life-saving machine to make sure other parents do not have to live with pain like theirs.

Robi and Kate Fox from Woodbridge have thrown everything into raising the £12,000 needed for an ECG machine for doctors in the town after their teenage daughter died.

Laura Fox was just 13 when she died suddenly after returning from a family holiday to France more than three years ago.

She was found dead in her bedroom minutes after going upstairs to get ready for a game of tennis.

Her devastated family did not know the bubbly, sporty youngster had been suffering from a heart problem that kills between your and eight young people a week.

Since Laura’s death in August 1998, friends, colleagues and family have rallied round to raise the money for the machine that could detect the problem in youngsters early on.

The machine was donated to the Framfield House Doctors Surgery in St John Street, Woodbridge.

In the June following Laura’s death, Robi, a policeman with Suffolk Constabulary, and a group of friends completed the Three Peaks Challenge – climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in 36 hours.

Laura’s twin brother Mark, now 17, also completed a triathlon to raise money and awareness of the condition.

A colleague of Mr Fox also set up a “dunk tank” which is used to soak senior police officers and force area commanders at every Police Family Day.

Other people from around the county have also continued raising money.

Mr Fox said: “There is an elderly couple in Woodbridge who hold a carol service in their home every year.”

“There is also a woman in Ipswich who raises money by holding garden parties and desk-top sales.”

“It is fantastic that they give us this much support, but it is also a shame that they have to do so.”

Mr Fox and his wife are now county representatives for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

The charity was set up by tennis player Mark Cox’s wife, Alison, after their son went to America to play tennis and was routinely screened for the condition.

The screening saved his life and he now runs the CRY website, set up by his mother.

Since Mr Fox became involved with the charity, Olympic rower Steve Redgrave has become a patron, following a letter from the family – a friend of his also died from a similar heart condition.

Mr Fox said the support that he, Kate, Mark and their eldest daughter Sam, 19, had received from the charity was immeasurable.

Now they have brought the ECG machine they are hoping to set up regular screening tests.

Mr Fox said: “From there we hope to go on to support the national campaign, but it should be the Government doing this.  We shouldn’t have to rely on the kindness of others.  If we can stop one family going through this, we have to carry on.”