The Mayor's charity fitness challenge in aid of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is taking place on Saturday at 3pm in the Arndale Centre.

Mayor of Eastbourne, Councillor Graham Marsden, said: "I hope that as many people as possible will call in at the main square of the Arndale on Saturday and support the young people who are taking part in the Fitness Challenge.

"Every week eight young people die without warning from undiagnosed heart conditions.  This is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue." 

Teams of local young people from Cavendish School, Park College, Eastbourne Rowing Club, Eastbourne Police Cadets and the University of Brighton, will compete on fitness equipment in order to promote the importance of exercise and the need for research into Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.     

The participants will have personal sponsorship pledges and in addition there will be a collection on the day for spectators to contribute.  

CRY was chosen as this year's Mayoral charity, not only because of its importance in raising awareness of this type of sudden death and providing support for grieving families, but also because of a young Cavendish School student Jeremy Cole, known to the Mayor, died suddenly in 1995 with no prior warning that anything was wrong.