Drive to get heart scans in honour of friend Lucy

Liam Kerr-Gray (21), from Werrington, is planning a modified car drive from the city to Hunstanton to raise money for heart charity CRY, in memory of his friend Lucy Jessop.

Lucy, from Northborough, was 18-years-old when she died in March last year after collapsing after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Liam is now organising the drive to raise money for a day of heart screenings for youngsters.

He said: “We really wanted to do something for Lucy - she was a very close friend for a lot of the people involved - she used to always hang out with us.

“There will be about 350 people on the drive on August 20.

“We are hoping we will have Lucy’s car there too. We will have a collection for CRY on the day, and we hope we will raise a lot of money.”

Lucy’s mum, Tracey Jessop-Thompson, who has been fundraising for the charity since the tragic death, said her daughter would be proud of the efforts.

She said: “I think what Liam and his friends are doing is amazing. They are trying to make these car events safer and give them a better reputation which is so good.

“They were very good friends of Lucy and she loved her cars, she had passed her test and loved driving too.

“I am humbled and Lucy would have been too by the support we have had from her friends, family and the whole community.”

She added: “We are fundraising for CRY charity because they do research into cardiac issues in the young.

“Our first £5,000 went to their core funding then the next £3,500 went to a screening day (screenings for 100 young people 14 - 34yrs old).

“We are now raising funds to get a second day of screenings in this area for local people to get to.

“CRY also provide families, friends and communities with information on cardiac issues in the young, they can provide bereavement councillors to help you with the grief.”

Mrs Jessop-Thompson said anyone wishing to help could donate to CRY in memory of Lucy Adena Jessop.

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