Social evening to be held in memory of student who died suddenly

A big charity night will be held tomorrow in memory of a young ‘gentle giant’ who died suddenly in his sleep. 

The family of super-fit student Jimmy Wilson, 24, who died at home in Sulgrave, Washington, on January 2 last year, have raised thousands of pounds for charity in his memory. 

A social evening featuring a local group, Male Order, whose line-up include Jimmy’s pal Steven James, will be held at the Stella Albany Sports and Social Club in Washington tomorrow. 

Tickets, available at the club in Albany village centre, cost £3 and proceeds will go to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). 

Jimmy (pictured left with nephew), a 6ft 6in computer buff in his first year of a degree course at Northumbria University, was a keen cyclist who biked up to 50 miles a day and spent his spare time at the gym. 

But his family have discovered that he may have suffered from a rare heart condition, which cut his life short. 

Family, friends and neighbours in Helmdon, Sulgrave, have been raising funds and awareness for CRY, which wants the Government to introduce a heart screening programme for children and teenagers. 

So far they have raised more than £3,000 through various activities, including a sponsored walk and a social night at a local club. 

Jimmy’s mum Ann, 50, has also been raising money to buy an electro-cardiograph machine for the Victoria Road Health Centre in Concord, where Jimmy’s doctor is based. 

Ann said: “It has been a terrible loss.  Part of me died that morning when I went to wake him and found him dead and the heartbreaking sight of his dad trying to resuscitate him.” 

Jimmy was diagnosed with diabetes after he suffered a viral infection at the age of 13 and had to inject himself with insulin five times a day. 

His dad, also called Jimmy, a team leader at Nissan, said: “He was diabetic, but he was very fit.  He watched what he ate and he didn’t really drink.  He really controlled his diabetes through exercise. 

“He was full of fun and always around someone’s house helping them out.  He had time for everyone.”