THE MP for Torridge and North Devon has pledged his support to a mother and daughter from Hartland in their work to save young people’s lives.

During a meeting with constituents, Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox offered his support and publicity for the selfless work Brenda Luckett and Charlotte Henderson do in conjunction with the charity ‘Cardiac Risk in the Young’ (CRY).

The mother and daughter duo have been proactive supporters of CRY and have put heart screening in the spotlight following the sudden death of their son and brother Martyn, who was just 19 at the time.

Brenda said: “July 11, 2015, was the worst day of our lives. We lost our youngest son Martyn and our whole lives changed that very moment we had the dreaded call from the hospital in Swindon.

“Martyn was a keen motorcycle trials rider and represented the South West on several occasions. Since then we have been raising money for CRY to fund regional screenings, so that other families might be spared the same heartache that we have endured.”

Every week in the UK 12 young people, aged 35 and under, die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Around 80% of these young people have no signs or symptoms. The only way to detect a potentially sinister cardiac abnormality is by having cardiac screenings.

CRY encourages young people to be screened and offers a national screening service where anyone aged 14 to 35 can access free cardiac screening. Local team John and Brenda Luckett and their daughter Charlotte, have tirelessly raised thousands of pounds with the help of their dedicated family and friends to fund local cardiac screening of young people in North Devon and Cornwall for the past eight years.

Mr Cox said: “I am delighted to lend my support to Brenda and Charlotte and CRY’s ongoing campaigning activity. I would like to congratulate their campaign which educates and offers support to so many young people and their families. As a father of three I was incredibly saddened to learn about the tragic circumstances which led them to work with CRY and I encourage my younger constituents to attend a local screening.”

Following their meeting with Mr Cox, Brenda and Charlotte attended CRY’s parliamentary reception to launch a powerful new booklet for young people learning to navigate their emotions following the tragic and sudden death of a close friend from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

The next CRY screening event will be held in Barnstaple on March 10 and 11, with the venue yet to be confirmed. Young people can register their interest to be notified at www.testmyheart.org.uk