Money raised in memory of a Newbury woman could help launch a screening programme to save the lives of young people with potentially fatal heart defects.

Claire Dee-Shapland died from a cardiac arrhythmia, aged 22, at the family home in Ball Hill, in 2005. 

Now, her father Nick is raising money through the Claire Dee-Shapland Memorial Fund, to help the national charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), set up a screening programme for young people involved in sport. 

Mr Dee-Shapland, recently appointed CRY's county representative for Berkshire, knows about the impact of the silent killer Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), which is hard to detect, and his is keen to support the charity's work in preventing such deaths in the future. 

He said: "Each week eight young people die from a cardiac-related problem here in the UK. 

"Often these deaths appear inexplicable, with a seemingly fit and healthy person dying without warning of an undetected condition. 

"Such a lack of explanation leaves families without cause for the loss of a loved one, which is why a screening programme and the work of CRY is so important. 

"A screening programme is in place for young athletes in America and Italy, so why can't we have one here?"

CRY aims to raise awareness about SADS, especially amongst young people in sport, and supports families affected by it. 

The charity is launching a five-year research project, Save our Athletes, led by its chairman Professor Greg Whyte, in tandem with consultant cardiologist Dr Sanjay Sharma, which will see 1,500 elite athletes screened using the latest cardiac imaging technology from Philips in the next two years. 

President of the CRY centre for sports cardiology, Sir Ian Botham, said: "We want anyone who participates in sport to have heart screening, just as they do in Italy.

"This screening programme is a huge step towards that, because of the empirical evidence it will provide.," 

Mr Dee-Shapland has been actively campaigning across Berkshire to raise awareness of the charity and SADS as part of CRY's National Awareness Week (from October 10 to 18) and he is keen to secure support from schools, sports clubs and sports centres. 

Newbury Rugby Club has agreed to support CRY and is to raise money on December 13 at their game against the Cornish Pirates. 

To find out more about CRY or to donate, visit: www.c-r-y.org.uk