A drive to raise public awareness of a rare heart condition that claimed a young man’s life is being spearheaded by his mother. 

Ann Wilson, 51, has raised thousands of pounds for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) which wants the Government to introduce a heart-screening programme for youngsters. 

The fundraising, and public awareness, was helped recently by Usworth Colliery Primary School, Washington, which sent letters to parents about its effort to help. 

Ann, who has two grandchildren at the school, Jamie, eight, and Bethany, five, decided to go into school and train as a teaching assistant after Jimmy’s death. 

Jimmy, 24, died at the family home in Helmdon, Sulgrave, Washington, on January 2 last year, despite desperate attempts to revive him. 

Since his death, family, friends and neighbours have raised £3,000 for CRY and £1,600 to buy a 24-hour blood pressure monitor for Jimmy’s doctor’s surgery at the Victoria Road Health Centre.