PARENTS who lost their son to a heart condition took to the streets of London to raise awareness,

Chris and Sue Dewhirst, from St Martins, took part in the CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk.

They first became involved with CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) after the sudden death of their son, Matthew, 17, in July 2012 from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

Chief executive of the charity, Dr Steven Cox, said; “CRY’s Heart of London Bridges Walk is always a very emotional and poignant day and, over the past 12 years, it has really focused on raising awareness and remembering those young people who have died, as well as helping to raise funds to save young lives. It also provides a unique opportunity for our supporters to come together and meet up with other families who will have been through a similar experience.

“We are immensely grateful to Sue and Chris - and everyone who took part this year - all of whom will have their own personal experience of the devastating impact of a sudden cardiac death of a young person close to them.

"We value their support hugely and also know that so many people from their local area will have been rooting for them every step of the way too.”

Matthew was a student at Ellesmere College with a passion for rugby and his sudden death, following a training session, sent shockwaves throughout the local community.

Since Matthew’s death, the couple - with support from family and friends - have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death and CRY’s work, raising more than £140,000 to date.

Sue has also become a Regional Representative for the charity.

The CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk is now in its 12th year and is one of the flagship events in the charity’s calendar, raising well over three-quarters of a million pounds to date since its launch in 2007.

Mr and Mrs Dewhirst were joined by close friend, Hazel Wakefield together with her son, Charles Coppinger, a very close friend of Matthew, who had travelled from Wellington in New Zealand to support them.

Nearly 1,400 people left Potters Fields Park (against the backdrop of Tower Bridge) after a minute’s silence and walked together, passing by 12 of London’s most famous landmarks - representing the deaths of the 12 seemingly fit and healthy young people who die every week in the UK from young, sudden, cardiac death (YSCD).

In 80 per cent of cases of young sudden cardiac death there will have been no signs or symptoms.

As such, CRY now tests around 27,000 young people each year aged between 14 and 35 - and over 165,000 since the screening programme was launched in 1995.

Free screenings will be held at Ellesmere College on August 25 and 26. To book visit www.testmyheart.org.uk or call CRY on 0203 691 0000.

One in every 300 young people tested by CRY will be identified with a potentially life-threatening condition.

For information on Mr and Mrs Dewhirst's fundraising, visit www.cry-for-matthew.org.uk, and donations can be made at www.c-r-y.org.uk/matthew-dewhirst.