The family of a footballer who died of a heart condition will help launch a health awareness campaign today.

Hinckley United player Matthew Gadsby, 27, of Denisthorpe, near Swadlincote, died in 2006 of an undetected heart condition.  Now his parents, Andy and Jackie, have given their backing to a new campaign by charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, which raises awareness of sudden death from heart conditions 

The couple will join the charity at the launch of a campaign to highlight the new statistic that, nationally, 12 young people each week are victims of sudden cardiac death. 

Mr Gadsby, who lives with his wife in Warwickshire, said: "In an ideal world, we'd like mandatory screening for heart conditions in 14-year-olds." 

At the launch today, a postcard featuring the photos of 12 victims from the Midlands will be unveiled at a ceremony in Nottingham.  Hundreds of the cards will be distributed by the charity across the region. 

Those who receive the cards will be urged to send them to their local MP to encourage them to join the Cardiac Risk in the Young All Party Parliamentary Group.  The charity's founder, Alison Cox, said: "We need to engage support from as many MP's as possible."