A MOTHER held a special heart screening day to mark the fifth anniversary of her son’s death.

June Thomas’ son Jack was 15-years-old when he died suddenly at his girlfriend’s house in Newbridge on February 12, 2012. Parents June and Grant Thomas don’t know the exact cause of Jack’s death, but it is believed to be associated with a possible arrhythmia.

After Jack’s death Mrs Thomas established a Valleys branch of UK charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) as well as Jack’s Appeal, a campaign to get all secondary schools in Gwent fitted with a defibrillator. The appeal, which was backed by the charity Welsh Hearts and the Argus, achieved this in 2015 and has since expanded into Gwent primary schools.

On Saturday, 111 people aged between 14 and 35 were screened for cardiac abnormalities at the Oakdale Medical Centre near Blackwood. Following the screening, two people were refereed for further tests.

The event was organised by Mrs Thomas in association with CRY, their staff and doctors were also in attendance.

Talking about the anniversary of Jack’s death Mrs Thomas said: “People says it gets easier with time, but I disagree. You learn to get through each day. I don’t think it will ever get easier.

“My family have been a fantastic support and so have the community and friends. Every fundraiser they are there and you got people doing bike races, running in the sea to fundraise in Jack’s memory. It’s just fantastic.”

She added: “I wanted a way to keep Jack’s memory alive. I don’t want anyone else to go through the trauma of losing a child that we are still living through.”

One of the defibrillators installed as a result of Jack’s Appeal saved the life of a mother who suffered a cardiac arrest at her children’s school in 2015.

Mrs Thomas, who received a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours, said: “I was put in touch with Sharon Owen at Welsh Hearts and set Jack’s Appeal up with them. We fundraise to put defibrillators in schools and Welsh Hearts team go along and train everybody.

“We gave one of the defibrillators to Blackwood Comprehensive School and 11 months later it saved a mum’s life. She suffered a cardiac arrest and if the defibrillator hadn’t been there she wouldn’t be alive.

“If he were alive, Jack would be celebrating his 21st birthday. There will be a special event organised by the family and Welsh Hearts to mark the date.”

“This year was our big year because I’m 50 on March 14, my son Owain is 18 on March 30 and Jack would have been 21 on June 6. Welsh Hearts are organising a black-tie ball at the Maes Manor Hotel on June 9 to mark his birthday.”

Visit welshhearts.org/jacksappeal and www.c-r-y.org.uk.