A NEW registered charity hopes to become Bude Sainsbury’s charity of the year.

Jay’s AIM — Helping Young Hearts has been set up in memory of James (Jay) Alexander Osborne, who grew up and went to school in Bude. Jay died of a sudden cardiac arrest on June 18 last year, aged 28.

The charity set up by Jay’s family aims to raise awareness of the risks and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in the South West’s young and active.

Jay died suddenly and unexpectedly while exercising, the cardiac arrest caused by an undiagnosed hereditary heart condition known as ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy).

This condition, and others like it, are not well known, and neither are their symptoms, but once diagnosed these heart conditions can be managed and monitored by the medical profession.

Jay’s family said there is no doubt in their minds that if Jay was here now he would have wanted to somehow make a difference to help reduce the number of young people suffering sudden cardiac death in the area he lived in and loved.

The AIM part of Jay’s AIM is an acronym for the three areas of the charity’s work: Assess, Inform, Make a Difference.

The charity promotes the different cardiac screening assessments available; visits local schools, sports clubs and businesses to inform the young about cardiac risk and how sudden cardiac death can be prevented; and makes a difference by providing both basic and advanced CPR/AED training and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the venues most in need.

Jay’s AIM has already started carrying out basic CPR sessions with young people and is booked in to deliver sessions to over 900 young people between May and August alone.

It has been nominated for Bude Sainsbury’s charity of the year along with Children’s Hospice South West and North Devon Hospice’s The Long House in Holsworthy.

Voting has started instore and online and goes on until June 24.

To vote online go to: www.sainsburyslocalcharity.co.uk/

Bude Football Club are running a five-a-side football tournament with all profits going to Jay’s AIM on June 30 at Broadclose Park.

Kick off at 12pm, players of all abilities welcome, teams must be entered by June 27. £25 per team, register your interest and receive an entry form by calling Wes Pugh on 07588 439527 or by emailing [email protected]

For more information on the charity, go to www.jaysaim.co.uk, find Jay’s AIM on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Details of the closest screening sessions can be found online or on social media. You can donate to the charity online or by texting Jays28 £5 to 70070.