A mum has completed a charity walk in London in memory of her son.

Jackie Godfrey and her friend Louise Fitzpatrick took part in the CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk as they remembered Jackie’s son, Joe Robbins, raising £800 for the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity in the process.

Joe sadly passed away in 2006 from an undiagnosed heart condition, aged just 12, after falling ill while playing badminton. Jackie has been supporting the charity ever since.

Walking alongside 1,400 other people, the pair crossed 12 of the capital’s bridges – representing the 12 young people who die from sudden cardic death every week in the UK.

“It was a very emotional day,” said Jackie, from Shefford. “So many young people’s faces on T-shirts. So many broken hearts.

“I will be walking again next year in memory of my son Joe, who was only 12 years old – and I will be recruiting more friends to raise awareness of the amazing work CRY do.

“Lou and I found the event well organised by CRY. Raising awareness of young sudden cardiac death is really important.”

CRY’s chief executive Dr Steven Cox praised the pair, saying: “We are immensely grateful to Jackie and Louise and everyone who took part this year, all of whom will have their own personal experience of the devastating impact of a sudden cardiac death of a young person close to them.

“We value their support hugely and also know that so many people from their area will have been rooting for them every step of the way.”

In 80 per cent of cases, heart conditions in young people show no signs or symptoms. CRY has screened more than 165,000 people aged between 14 and 35 since the charity was founded in 1995, with one person in every 300 found to have a potentially life-threatening condition.

Dr Cox said: “CRY’s Heart of London Bridges Walk is always a very emotional and poignant day and, over the past 12 years, it has really focused on raising awareness and remembering those young people who have died, as well as helping to raise funds to save young lives.”

“It also provides a unique opportunity for our supporters to come together and meet up with other families who will have been through a similar experience.”

As well as screenings, the charity offers bereavement support to those who have lost someone, while carrying out research and raising awareness for the condition.

For more information about CRY visit c-r-y.org.uk/