Esher and Walton MP Ian Taylor has confirmed he is applying to join the All Parliamentary Group for Surrey charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

The MP joined the charity’s Parliamentary Group in response to calls from Esher couple Alastair and Stephanie Paterson, who have involved themselves in the charity’s work since they lost their son, James, to an undetected heart condition.  He was 24. 

Their story was featured recently in the News and Mail when CRY launched a postcard campaign highlighting the fact that eight young people die every week from undetected heart conditions. 

Mr Taylor said: “I am very happy to join the All Party Parliamentary Group because I have sons in their 20s and I would hate to be in that situation myself,” he said. 

“I can well understand the trauma of having a child get to that age and then losing them.” 

The MP had already written to health minister John Hutton to highlight Mr & Mrs Paterson’s concerns.