A fundraising drive was in full swing at a charity golf day held for a young footballer who died on the pitch. 

Football-mad teenager Edward Reading, collapsed and died after scoring a goal in a league match in Portsmouth. 

No-on knew the 18-year-old, known to friends as Awesome Ed, had a rare genetic condition called sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. 

His family and friends gathered for a golf day yesterday to raise awareness of the condition and raise funds for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young. 

Over 80 people teed off from Rowland's Castle Golf Club to help pay for special tests that could save other youngsters with the same condition as Ed. 

Among them were his parents, Steve and Alice Reading, of Panton Close, Emsworth. 

Mrs Reading, 52, who works for Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Chamber of Commerce , said: "Everybody was completely devastated.  I wouldn't want any family to go through what we've been through.  People really need to know about this. 

"We're trying to raise money for a unit to visit so that for a small cost children can take the test. 

"Many of his friends took part in the golf day to help as we're trying to do something positive in our grief." 

The electrocardiogram and echocardiogram tests look at the structure of the heart and the electrical conduction pathways around it.  The tests are painless, non-invasive and only take minutes. 

It only costs £35 per person to have these tests, so if Ed's family and friends can raise about £4,000 they can pay for a mobile unit to visit the local area to conduct tests on over 100 people. 

Steve Cox, deputy chief executive of CRY said: "These tests are the only way you can find out if you have SADS.  If you have family members who have died of a sudden heart condition then it's important you consult your doctor and get a screening." 

For more information please go to c-r-y.org.uk

SADS FACTS

Edward Reading died in July 2007 when playing for his team South Park in a league match at the Mountbatten Centre in North End.

He had mentioned about a slight pain in his chest before going out to play football, but the tragedy came out of the blue. 

A family cousin had also died suddenly for unexplained reasons some 30 years ago, but doctors ruled out a link saying the connection was too distant. 

Both parents, Steve and Alice Reading, as well as their two other sons, Sean and Glenn, have been tested for the syndrome, know as SADS.