Keen sailor Ben Williams has dedicated his final voyage to the memory of his tragic grand-daughter.

Ben, aged 73, of Astley Bridge, drew inspiration for the trip, which began in Manchester this week, for Amy Williams, who died suddenly, age 11, in her bed in 2005.   

A coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes after hearing that Amy's heart stopped suddenly while she was in bed at her Boothstown home. 

He began his cruise at Dale Street, Manchester, when he was accompanied by a bagpipe player on the front of his narrow boat. 

He will use an 80-mile canal cruise to raise money for the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) group which raises awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death and Sudden Death Syndrome. 

Along with friend and retired sea captain Jim Dawson, aged 66, Ben will spend two weeks sailing round the South Pennine ring including the Huddersfield Narrow, Ashton and Rochdale canals over the next two weeks. 

The journey will cover 80 miles and 220 locks through Lancashire and Yorkshire. 

Mr Williams said: "Amy was fit, active, a dancer and she died in bed.

"It was devastating and they did so many tests to find out how she died.  The best doctors in the country were involved but found nothing conclusive. 

When Amy died I started raising awareness of the work CRY do. 

"They have counselling services and can help a lot in these situations." 

"CRY is the only charity trying to encourage testing of young people who are sporting and active.  The under-40s are not really catered for because they are not supposed to have heart problems." 

Since Amy died her parents, Julie and David and older sister Nicola, have been calling for more research into the condition and given their support to the group which is supported by celebrities such as Ian Botham and Little Britain star David Walliams. 

Mr Williams, who says this will be his last cruise, has been an active fund raiser for charities researching treatments for Parkinsons Disease and cancer, diseases which affected his first wife, Connie, who died in 1998, aged 67. 

He added: "I've done virtually all of the waterways in Britain. 

"This one has only just become available for me to do with canals being restored and re-opened. 

"It's very hard work but my family and friends understand why I'm doing it." 

Amy's father David Williams, aged 46, from Borderbrook Lane, Worsley said: "I think it is a great idea.  There was a bagpiper playing when he left which was quite poignant.

"The worse thing about the whole if it is that Amy was the fittest and most active of all the family.  It's still very difficult. 

"CRY do a great job with the resources they have but they need more help in raising awareness.