Mum's pledge to help other young people after son's sudden death

A mum who lost her 23-year-old son to an undiagnosed heart condition says it is "bittersweet" that her loss has helped save other people's lives.

Deborah Dixon set up a memorial fund in Aaron's name after he died in 2011.

She now fundraises to put on screening events with the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) to detect undiagnosed cardiac abnormalities.

It paid for 250 people to have an electrocardiogram (ECG) in Preston in one weekend.

The screenings are open to anyone aged 14 to 35.

Ms Dixon, from Tarporley in Cheshire, said losing her son was "every parent's worst nightmare" and it was two months before the family was told by the corner that Aaron had died from a genetic heart defect.

"Aaron had, on two occasions, been admitted to hospital, but on both those occasions he wasn't given an ECG and I believe that if he had, he'd still be here today," she said.

The family were referred to CRY for support where Ms Dixon said she was "shocked" to learn "12 young people every week were losing their lives and 80% of those had no previous symptoms whatsoever".

To "keep Aaron's memory alive", Ms Dixon set up the memorial fund.

"Aaron's fund has screened just over 7,000 people and 278 of those have been referred," she said.

"For me it was always about preventing other families going through the heartache that we go through and giving those young people a tomorrow which was something Aaron didn't get.

"And it is bittersweet because I wish I hadn't know about the charity, but until it touches you you're not aware.

"So the main thing is to raise the awareness. Until there is a national screening program, I'll continue to do this."

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