Pictured from left are lead practice nurse Jayne Elton, Dr Helen Kingston, Dr Chris Ellis, Julian’s sister Debbie Rushbridge, his parents Shirley and David Wort and his long term partner Claire Skyner.

In only six months the family of Julian Wort raised £5,000 to buy life-saving equipment for the Frome Health Centre in memory of their son.

Julian died suddenly at the age of 28 in March 2000 from a rare heart condition known as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

His family decided to launch an appeal in his memory through a charity called CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

They wanted to raise enough money to buy a state of the art ECG machine for the Frome Medical Practice. Those helping to raise money included the Lions Club and Little Terrors soft play centre. Fund raising events including a school reunion, karaoke, a skittles competition, coffee mornings, a sponsored head shave and a sponsored slim.

Mrs Wort said: “We, as a family, would like to thank everyone who has supported us during the last 15 months since losing Julian.

“It has been a difficult time for us all, and hopefully, by continuing to raise awareness, no other family will have to go through such a tragedy as we have.”

The Worts plan to continue their campaign with CRY.

The charities main aims are to raise awareness of symptoms, screening, research and family support.

Mrs Wort said: “We want to raise enough money to make possible an ongoing ECG programme and mobile screening.”

With permission Somerset Standard.