THE families of two young men who died suddenly from previously undiagnosed heart conditions have finally seen their dream to prevent further tragedy become a reality.

Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) held their first screening session in East Lancashire thanks to support by the Neil Wickers and David Staff Memorial Fund.

A team of medics, including a cardiologist, from St George's Hospital in London travelled to Darwen's ICI Club in Bridge Street to oversee the free testing. About 60 people, aged between 14 and 35 were seen.

The session was also supported by two local ECG technicians.

Neil, 31, a financial adviser, of St Alban's Road, Darwen, died after collapsing at the Albion Mill gym in Blackburn in 1996 and was diagnosed as having a rare condition called cardiac sarcardosis. Former Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School pupil David, 17, of Carus Avenue, Hoddlesden, died after collapsing near the end of a 10km Darwen Dashers race in December 1994 - his first senior race. It was later found he had suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Their families joined forces to turn their trauma into something positive and have spent the past two-and-a-half years fund-raising to buy a mobile ECG machine to be used for the benefit of the local community.

The charity hopes to hold a further screening next year.

Neil's mum, Irene Wickers, of Cyprus Street, Darwen, said: "I can't explain just how wonderful it was to see everything run so smoothly. It made all our efforts worthwhile.

"The founder of CRY, Alison Cox, spent the day in Darwen to oversee the session. It was fully booked an we were inundated with inquiries over the weekend. Our fund-raising will continue so we can hold further sessions."

Picture: Irene Wickers and Granville Staff watch as senior technician Gillian Middlehurst tests 13-year-old Jonathan Cockburn