Local MP Tim Loughton was the guest speaker at the launch of a postcard campaign by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY)

The East Worthing and Shoreham MP is also shadow children’s minister and he spoke last year in support of a private member’s bill to encourage the government to increase screening of young people. 

More than eight children a week die of undetected heart conditions and the postcard is intended for family and friends of victims, and other supporters of the charity, to send to their MP. 

Mr Loughton said: “Losing a child is a tragedy.  Losing a child from a medical condition that might have been preventable, if action had been taken earlier, is doubly tragic.  

"I am full of admiration for the excellent work that CRY is doing in raising the profile of this problem, with parents, politicians and doctors determined to make sure that eight needless deaths a week are reduced in the future. 

“Having met parents whose lives have been shattered by the sudden and unexpected death of a child in my constituency, I know just how real a problem this is.”