Family and friends of a popular 27-year-old who died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart condition have been warmly praised for raising an 'unbelievable' £7,000 plus sum - to help save the lives of other potential victims.

James Murgatroyd, a former Etwall Primary and John Port School pupil who lived in the village, had shown no symptoms of being unwell before collapsing at his home in October 2016.

His family later discovered he was one of 12 young people who die every week in Britain due to undetected heart defects – and his death could not have been foreseen.

In March his family spoke to the Mail of the pain of losing James, and their determination to prevent other families from suffering the same heartache.

This led to their "JimJam" gig fund-raiser, which paid tribute to James’ love of music, and saw £7,138 raised for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). The money was handed over to the charity on the same day as a South Derbyshire screening event in Hilton.

James’ mum Rose Murgatroyd said: "The support we had for the JimJam event was incredible and there were more than 300 people there with us.

"For us as a family it’s all about raising awareness and highlighting the importance of screening among young people – we want to make a difference and help prevent other families going through what we have.

"Even at the event itself we were giving out leaflets and talking about CRY and the work they do. It’s so important to get this message out there and ensure more young people are screened.

"We want to say a huge thank-you to everyone that came to the event, and to all the companies and businesses that supported us and donated prizes to be auctioned off."

Friends of James' are also rallying to help the cause. Since the JimJam fund-raiser pals Matt Truswell and Dale Platts completed a 100-mile bike road race, raising in excess of £2,000 which will also go to the CRY charity.

Sudden deaths due to an undiagnosed heart conditions are more common in the fit and healthy, and similar cases in the sporting world – including that of survivors Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba and England cricketer James Taylor – have raised awareness of the issue.

James' brother Paul Murgatroyd said: "In James' case there was nothing whatsoever to suggest this might happen. He was never ill and he was fit and healthy. We'd go running together often – James was a picture of health."

Doctors would later reveal James, who worked as a land surveyor at Greenhatch, in Little Eaton, had suffered a heart aneurism, due to a defect caused by an enlarged heart.

The Burton Mail reported last year on the death of Alex Parker, a 13-year-old from Castle Gresley, who also died of an undetected heart condition.

Dani West, a representative from CRY, said: "James, family and friends have raised an unbelievable amount and they should all be very proud.

"Funding is hugely important to us and allows us to run screenings. These heart conditions are undetectable without testing and the more we can host, the more lives that are saved.

"One day of screening would see more than 100 people tested but costs around £5,000 to put on. This is why fund-raising support like this is so important to us."

CRY is pushing for more young people to be screened in places like schools or at sports clubs. Charity organisers say many of the defects are easily detectable through relatively simple scans – but, as these are not commonplace, young people are dying as a result.

James' parents Gary and Rose, siblings Paul and Amy, their partners Fran and Joe, and James' partner Chloe have vowed to continue their fund-raising efforts along with other friends and family, and now hope to make JimJam an annual event in support of the CRY charity.

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