Fundraisers rally round after Jimmy's tragic death

The family and friends of a student who died suddenly in his sleep have raised thousands of pounds to tackle the rare heart condition which is believed to have claimed his life. 

Jimmy Wilson, 24, known as a gentle giant, died at home in Sulgrave, Washington, on January 2, last year, despite his family’s desperate attempts to revive him. 

Since his death, family, friends and neighbours in Helmdon, Sulgrave, have been raising funds and awareness for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which wants the Government to introduce a heart screening programme for children and teenagers. 

So far they have raised more than £4,000 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 by baking cakes to buy a 24-hour blood pressure monitor for Jimmy’s doctor’s surgery at the Victoria Road Health Centre. 

The fund was boosted by more than £500 with a social evening earlier this month at the Stella Albany Sports and Social Club in Washington. 

The charity event featured a local group, Male Order, whose line-up includes Jimmy’s pal Steven James. 

Ann said: “I was very pleased with it.  Everybody had a good time.  We’ll be going back again in six months raising money for CRY after we’ve brought the blood pressure monitor.” 

Jimmy, 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. 

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, 48, a team leader at Nissan, said: “Jimmy was very active.  He would be out and about all the time and wouldn’t think twice about cycling up to 50 miles a day. 

“He was diabetic, but he was very fit.  He watched what he at and he didn’t really drink.  He really controlled his diabetes through exercise. 

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