'A legacy is what he would have wanted': Sister of 25-year-old who died after sudden collapse
A woman has raised more than £12,000 for charity after her brother died of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
Now, in her latest round of fundraising, Rachel Dingle is looking to raise enough money to have defibrillators put around the city in her brother Alex's favourite places.
Alex Brown, aged 25, died suddenly on April 7 this year after collapsing in the garden of the home he had just moved into with his girlfriend. She had gone out to play netball and found him collapsed in the garden when she returned.
Since then Rachel, of Wolverhampton, and her family and Alex's friends and girlfriend Rebecca have been raising money for Cardiac Risk in the Young, also known as CRY.
Various fundraisers have taken place throughout this year including a charity football match and a charity rugby match between Alex's Dragons and Lichfield All-stars.
Rachel said: "Ever since April we have been trying to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
"What we have found since we started is that 12 to 13 people a week in the UK die of undiagnosed heart conditions.
"Heart screening is free in a number of countries but not on the NHS here in England.
"Sudden Adult Death Syndrome can happen to anyone. People don't think it will happen to them until it does. There's not enough awareness of it.
"I want to place some defibrillators around some of Alex's favourite spots such as East Park, Tettenhall, Rowley Regis. To leave a legacy, it's what he would have wanted.
"He worked in mental health, he was so caring and fit and healthy.
"He died 10 days before my first daughter was born and I know he was really looking forward to being an uncle."
Growing up it was just Alex, Rebecca and their mother, so Alex gave the father of the bride speech at Rebecca's wedding.
A tribute on Alex's JustGiving page said: "Alex certainly was a character, he was the absolute love of my life, he was a fantastic son, a 'big' little brother and was soon to become an uncle. He was the life and soul of every party and could make a room full of strangers his best friends."
Those wishing to donate to Alex's legacy can do so at www.justgiving.com/remember/193809/Alex-Brown
More information on CRY is available on their website www.c-r-y.org.uk/
