Debbie and Keith Bucknell today marked what should have been their son’s 15^th birthday with a vow to keep on helping others like him.

The couple expressed deep gratitude to Evening Press readers after our appeal in memory of Jamie, who died suddenly of an undetected heart condition last year, raised nearly double the target.

The people of York reached the Jamie’s Have a Heart Appeal £7500 target within three weeks and went on to raise an extra £6200 with five weeks.

Jamie’s parents have now set up a permanent appeal in his memory through the national organisation Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which has helped them try to come to terms with what has happened.

They went on GMTV earlier this year to talk about the work the charity does and according to CRY they have already saved at least one life by raising the profile of undetected heart conditions in young people.

Keith said: ”Today is such a difficult day for us; we love and miss Jamie so much.  Our hearts are broken.  But we do know that by talking about what happened to Jamie we are helping other people.  We’re not so lucky.”

The money raised is being split between CRY and Strensall Medical Practice, which is going to buy an ECG (electrocardiogram) heart machine.

Keith said: ” People all around the city have been kind, especially people in Strensall and we want to give something back to the community.”

Alison Cox, founder and Chief Executive of CRY said: ”Jamie’s parents have been so brave in raising the profile of heart conditions in young people.  We have had a tremendous response from their help.  Our phone lines have been jammed and they have helped to save at least one life.”