THE families of two young men who died from undiagnosed heart complaints today joined forces in the fight to prevent it happening to others.

Money raised by the parents of David Staff and Neil Wickers will buy equipment capable of detecting potentially life threatening heart defects. They hope it will be used to screen thousands of other young people.

David, 17, of Carus Avenue, Hoddlesden, died after collapsing near the end of the 10k Darwen Dashers Road Race in December, 1994.

Neil, 31, a financial adviser. of St Alban's Road, Darwen, collapsed at the Albion Mill gym at Ewood, Blackburn.

The men did not suffer from the same condition but David's father Granville Staff said the same equipment might have saved their lives.

He added: "Neil's death was not exactly the same but it was a similar sort of condition.

"£6,000 would buy a mobile ECG machine which could be used to screen 90 per cent of the heart conditions that eventually kill young people." Some countries screen for heart conditions - but not the United Kingdom.

Mr Staff recently raised £1,600 running in the London marathon and was supported by sponsorship gained by Neil's parents Bill and Eileen, of Bolton Road, Darwen.

Mr Staff added: "Neil's parents contacted me and have actually raised quite a lot of money already.

"Darwen Dashers provided £200. A lot of people have been very generous."

David Staff was an unwitting sufferer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition which occurs as a result of a thickening of one of the heart muscles.

Neil is believed to have succumbed to a faulty heart valve.

Both families are now northern contacts for the Cardiac Risk in the Young group involved in the testing initiative.

Mr Staff added: "If we were successful in buying this equipment, CRY would train two nurses to use it."

The families hope to hold a fund-raising fun day, and are seeking a suitable ground as a venue. Anyone who can help can contact Mr Staff on 01254 701807.

Donations or offers of sponsorship can be sent to the Cardiac Risk in the Young group, at PO Box 28, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 1BW.

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