A heartbroken mum has joined some of the best known household names to raise the profile of a syndrome which claimed the life of her son. 

Gary Cooper was a healthy, 26-year-old who died suddenly while working at Sainsbury’s supermarket, Heaton Park, in September 1998.  At the time his mum, Anne Cooper, of Tennyson Road, Boarshaw, said: “He went outside to the trolley point and then he just slithered to the ground and that was it, he never regained consciousness.” 

Doctors were initially baffled over what had killed the Queen fan but it was later diagnosed as Sudden Cardiac Death.  No defect was ever found with his heart, the only explanation given for his death at the time was that it was the adult equivalent to cot death. 

Now Anne has joined Tony Blair, Hugh Grant, Jonny Wilkinson, Emma Thompson, Ian Botham, Michael Caine and Julie Walters to support Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). 

The charity has now produced ‘101 Reasons to Get Up In The Morning’, a book packed full of celebrity quotes to help raise awareness of the syndrome which kills eight young people in the UK every week. 

Anne is thrilled about the new book, and feels it will bring much-needed publicity to the condition. 

She said: “I think the book is great because it will make a great Christmas present and will be a very interesting read. 

“At the same time it will help raise funds for cardiac screening so any further deaths may be prevented and stop any other families having to suffer the sudden loss of a much loved son. 

“Gary was so healthy and fit that his death, although seven years ago, is still difficult to come to terms with.” 

Cardiac screening has already saved lives but it is only available free on the NHS to people under 35 whose family has experienced a loss due to Sudden Cardiac Death.  The more awareness and money raised, the more young people will be screened and more lives will be saved. 

The book is priced £7.99 with proceeds to CRY.