A MAN is running a 10k road race for the heart screening charity set up in memory of his nephew who died during a gym workout.

Brian Taylor, 52, of the Garden Village, Darwen, is participating in the Blackpool Road Race on Sunday May 12 and hopes to raise sponsorship to help Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

The parents of Neil Wickers set up CRY in 1997 with the mother and father of David Staff -- another man who died of an undetected heart defect.

CRY aims to raise awareness of such conditions, to support medical research into Sudden Death Syndrome, and to counsel and support other affected families.

Neil's mum Eileen, said: "Brian is quite fit. We are hoping he can raise as much sponsorship as possible.

"We are always trying to raise funds. We are doing another mobile screening on June 8 and that costs £8,000 because we have to bring a team up from London.

"It is nice to keep helping because there is nothing else we can do for Neil now.

"Sudden Death Syndrome kills four young people, aged between 14 and 35 each week. In this country there isn't enough screening. In Italy, for instance, all young people are screened." Neil, who was 31, of St. Alban's Road, Darwen, collapsed at the Albion Mill gym at Ewood, Blackburn in 1996, and was believed to have had a faulty heart valve.

David, who was 17, of Carus Avenue, Hoddlesden, died after collapsing near the end of the 10k Darwen Dashers Road Race in December 1994. He was later found to have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where one of the heart muscles thickens.

Even though the causes of Neil and David's deaths were different, their families believe that heart screening could have saved them by detecting any defects.

They have raised thousands of pounds to buy a mobile electronic cardiograph machine to take around East Lancashire.

And in August last year, the families presented the machine, which tests for 90 percent of heart conditions that can kill young people, to Darwen Health Centre.

David Taylor would like to hear from anyone who would like to sponsor him. Anyone who can help should call 01254 707895.