The family and friends of former Dover footballer Paul Sykes travelled to the heart of London on Sunday to take part in the annual fundraising walk in support of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). 

The family became involved with CRY when Paul died suddenly in 2005 aged 28 from Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) while playing football. 

He and his widow Carly had a son, Thomas, who was 10 months old at the time. 

Hundreds of walkers left from the Victoria Embankment on Sunday and finished about three hours later at the Hay's Galleria near London Bridge. 

the route passed over some of London's best-known bridges including Waterloo, Tower and the Millennium bridges. 

Walkers also passed 12 of London's most famous landmarks to represent the deaths of the 12 apparently fit and healthy young people, aged 35 and under who die every week in the UK from undiagnosed cardiac conditions. 

CRY has recently launched a pioneering 10-week national campaign aiming to reduce the number of undiagnosed heart conditions by screening over 3,000 14 to 35 year olds. 

Walkers were led again by world-famous opera star and veteran fundraiser Kathryn Harries, who opened the walk with inspirational songs from the bandstand. 

She was also joined by professional fitness instructor Kirk Douglas, who helped the crowd warm up before the event. 

the charity estimates that just over £80,000 was raised from the walk. 

People can donate by logging on to www.justgiving.com/kathrynharries_crybridgeswalk_2009

For more information call the CRY office on 01737 363 222 or visit. www.c-r-y.org.uk/bridges_walk_2009.htm