FAMILY and friends of a Kendal-born man who died from undetected heart defects are determined to raise awareness of the issue by holding a two-day screening event for young adults across the South Lakes.

Aaron Dixon was 23 when he suddenly died in 2011 from an undiagnosed genetic heart defect.

Since his death, Aaron’s mum Debbie Dixon has decided to put all of her energy into raising awareness and encouraging young adults between the age of 14 and 35 to be screened.

With the help of the charity Cardiac Risk in Young (CRY), Mrs Dixon set up a memorial fund and has so far managed to raise more than £230,000.

According to the charity CRY, every week across the nation at least 12 fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions.

The charity said sometimes an individual might have a cardiac abnormality without having any symptoms.

The money raised so far from the fund has already helped around 2,500 young adults get their heart tested through screening and 91 of them have had their lives saved as a result.

Mrs Dixon, along with friends Elaine Nelson and Andrew Richardson, are now raising money so that young adults in the South Lakes could be screened.

“I couldn’t save my son because we had no idea about it,” said Mrs Dixon, who lives in Cheshire.

“But with the knowledge I have now I can go out and save other people. I don’t want anyone else to go through what we’ve been through.”

Mrs Nelson wanted to help bring the campaign to Kendal and so had set herself the target of raising £10,000, the amount needed to cover the costs of screening over two days.

“I wanted to do something in memory of Aaron,” she said.

“And we really need to get the awareness out here in the South Lakes.

“We will also be holding fundraising events throughout the year.”

However, Mrs Nelson added that they were still looking for a possible venue for the two-day screening event.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has also showed support for the campaign.

“This is such an important campaign,” said Mr Farron.

“Far too many lives are cruelly cut short because the conditions weren’t picked up.

“What Debbie has achieved over the past few years in helping young people across the country gain early diagnosis has been nothing short of inspirational.”

Meanwhile, the appeal has got off on a fantastic start after Lakeland, the family-owned kitchenware company, made a generous financial donation towards the £10,000 target.

The dates for the screening are August 1 and 2.

Anyone who would like to donate or who may have a venue that could hold the screening can email reporter Celia Powell on celia.powell@newsquest.co.uk.

The appeal group’s online justgiving page can be found by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Elaine-Nelson8