Families join march for young heart victims

Hundreds of people will march along the banks of the Thames this weekend in memory of children and teenagers who have died from undiagnosed heart conditions.

Around 800 supporters of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young will walk across eight London bridges in a bid to raise £100,000.

They also want to promote awareness of little-known conditions which kill at least eight apparently fit and healthy young people in Britain every week.

Among the walkers will be BBC journalists Claire Prosser and Paul Clabburn, from Ealing. Their son Tom was 14 when he died in his sleep last October.

The couple, both 48, Tom's sister Ellen, 14, and 100 friends and relatives will complete the fivemile walk, all wearing T-shirts bearing Tom's picture.

Ms Prosser said: "It means Tom will be coming with us on what I imagine will be a very poignant walk. It's so difficult losing a child.

"Tom was a very healthy boy who did a lot of sport and was very energetic. He went to bed one night and died of what was later found to be an undiagnosed heart condition.

My husband found him in the morning." The walkers will be led by CRY patron and international soprano Kathryn Harries, who will entertain them as they gather in Victoria Embankment Gardens for Sunday's 10.30am start. The money will help provide scans.