Richard was first and foremost a great partner, father, son and brother. He was also a brilliant friend to those who knew him. He had just become a dad for the first time. Leaving behind him his 9 week old son Jack. Richard was just aged just 26 when he died suddenly from sudden arrhythmic death. His death may have been preventable if he had under gone routing cardiac screening, or if there had been a Defibrillator available.

Myself, my parents Pam and John, and Richard’s partner Emma, spent weeks organizing a glitzy, glamourous black tie event to celebrate Richard’s life and to raise money for CRY. The evening was held at Drayton Manor Park and the evening started with reception drinks on the terrace whilst watching the amusement park’s annual firework spectacular. This was followed by a delicious 3 course dinner and then an auction and live music until midnight. Over 100 guests attended and everyone really enjoyed themselves, we raised a toast to Richard.

We raised an amazing amount during the course of the evening, £4083.00 in total. The money raised will be split, with the majority going towards CRY to help prevent another family from suffering such a terrible loss.

There will also be enough money left to support the purchase of 2 PAD, Public Access Defibrillators. 1 for the high school where Jack will attend in 2015 and the other for Baginton village, Coventry where his family still live. Public Access Defibrillators have been proven to save lives. They can increase survival rates from 3-5% chance of survival without an AED to 74% chance with an AED, and those machines place in areas where ambulance response times may be longer such as villages and rural communities, have really made a difference.

Everyone had such a good time that we have been asked if we will be holding another one next year…so who knows?!

Jo Bradley