A pupil at Highsted Grammar School has raised more than £500 for a good cause after her friend died of a heart attack. 

Amy Mead collected the money as part of an initiative at the school which saw everyone in year eight come up with ideas to raise money for charity.

The 13-year-old from Minster supported Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in memory of Charlotte Wright, who collapsed in 2002 during an outing with Halfway Primary School. 

When Amy was given badges to sell by CRY, she made £36.50 at school, but carried on selling the merchandise afterwards to reach the impressive amount. 

Donations from family and friends boosted the total, along with a £200 contribution from Round Tablers in Welling. 

Amy, who received a certificate from CRY for her efforts, said: "I wanted to help stop children dying from undiagnosed heart conditions. 

"I want to make sure other people do not have to go through what I went through." 

Her father Ian said: "My wife Julia and I try to support the charity as much as we can.  If it relieves my daughter's pain then that's a good thing." 

A party is held every year in Clyde Street, Sheerness, by Charlotte's mother Karen to raise money for the charity.  

SHOCK OF SUDDEN DEATHS

Each week eight apparently fit and healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions. 

Cardiac Risk in the Young - CRY - was founded in May 1995. 

The charity works with cardiologists and family doctors to promote and protect the cardiac health of young people by establishing good practice and screening facilities devoted to significantly reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death throughout the UK. 

CRY also offers help, support and counselling to families where there has been a sudden cardiac death of an apparently fit and  healthy young person.  Usually the young person will have died while engaged in some perfectly normal activity of eating, drinking, taking exercise or in their sleep. 

CRY has donated more than £400,000 worth of cardiac equipment for use in GP surgeries, cardiac wards and A&E departments.