A 23-year-old man suffering from a heart condition has run a half-marathon to help raise funds for an organisation working with young cardiac sufferers.

Russ Davey, an electrician, who works for Ipswich Town Football Club, suffers from an irregular and fast heart beat. 

Mr Davey, who lives in Stowmarket, has to take medication daily to treat the condition, which left uncontrolled could lead to a stroke. 

He has been treated by specialists at both Ipswich and Papworth hospitals, but is determined not to let the problem  rule his life. 

He has just taken part in the Great North Run half-marathon of 13.1 miles with his girlfriend, 28-year-old Donna Redgewell, and the couple have raised £700 for CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Mr DAvey7, who last year took part in the London Marathon for a local children's hospice, has also been travelling for three months to destinations including America, Fiji, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Thailand. 

He prepared carefully for his marathon through training and said: "I Still find my heart flutters every week and have some bad episodes, but am much better, but I am determined to live my life. 

"I trained for the marathon and want to keep my fitness levels high.  I am most happy running half-marathons and hope to compete again next year in a couple of runs. 

"CRY have been very helpful to me and have given me a lot of good advice.  I just wanted to give something back." 

Every week at least eight apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions in the UK and CRY is a charity founded in May 1995 to raise awareness of the risks. 

A spokesman for the organisation said: "It is often difficult to consider that someone who is apparently young and fit may be at risk.  Sporty youngsters stress their hearts the most.  If they have an underlying cardiac abnormality, they are more likely to be at risk." 

CRY, whose patrons include David Walliams, offer support to those who have lost a loved one, promotes heart screening, EGG testing programmes, contributes to medical research and has donated medical equipment to doctor's surgeries and hospitals.