FAMILIES whose lives have been devastated by Sudden Cardiac Death are hoping a new campaign will help save the lives of others.

National charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) will unveil a new postcard campaign on Friday that features the faces of eight young people from the North West died suddenly of previously undetected heart conditions.

Among them will be David Staff, of Hoddlesden, and Neil Wickers, of Darwen, who, like the other six victims, had no apparent symptoms or history of bad health.

CRY says hundreds of sudden deaths which occur every year in the UK could be prevented if simple cardiac screening was more accessible.

Hundreds of postcards will be distributed and recipients urged to send them to MPs to pressure them into supporting the campaign.

David's father Granville Staff, of Carus Avenue, said the family was devastated when the teenager collapsed and died five miles into his first senior run for Darwen Dashers in 1994.

He had a symptomless heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - but Granville says David could have been saved if he had been screened and had a pacemaker fitted.

"It's a parent's worst nightmare," said Granville. We can't help David or Neil but we can help someone else."

Irene Wickers, of Cyprus Street, lost her son Neil, 31, when he collapsed and died at a Blackburn gym in 1996 due to a virus called sarcoidosis. "He was fit and healthy and a big, strapping lad," said Irene. "We had no idea it was going to happen."

The parents joined CRY after the tragedies and have helped raise £40,000 with a host of events to buy cardiac equipment as well as raise awareness.

And through their efforts 200 young people have been screened and at least eight lives have been saved after conditions were picked up.

Now they hope the new campaign is the start of having a network of screening centres established across the country and making people aware of such conditions.