A HAMPSHIRE father who set up a flagship health screening sessions in memory of his daughter has helped prevent nearly 1,000 young people from falling victim to the rare heart condition that claimed her life.

Graham Hunter organised the series of mass testing sessions following the death of his daughter Claire Reed from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) two years ago.

Now he is inviting people to a new series of health checks taking place on the weekend of October 24 and 25 in Eastleigh which are available to book.

The latest appointments available at Fleming Park Leisure Centre, mean that the Hunter family and her husband Andy Reed have funded screenings for 900 young people for the condition since Claire’s death.

The 22-year-old collapsed and died while celebrating at a hen do in Taunton, Somerset, in March 2013 – just five months after her marrying Andy.

A coroner ruled the young accountant – who was fit and healthy – died of SADS.

The illness – which often goes undetected – kills an estimated 12 people aged under 35 a week.

Mr Hunter estimates that around 30 people (three per cent) of those tested have been found to suffer complications – including himself who has been fitted with a Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator to monitor his heartbeat.

The new two-day screenings have spaces for a combined 200 youngsters aged 14-35 and are run in partnership with the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) charity which raises awareness of the condition. The test involves experts taking an electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the heart’s electrical activity and identify any abnormality.

The family is funding the tests with some of the £45,000 it has raised since her death.

Mr Hunter said: “After Claire’s death we never thought we may organise screenings for a couple of hundred people but we never thought it would grow to this. We are still determined to push for the screenings and working with CRY as we know it is saving lives. It is all part of creating a legacy for Claire.”

The family is also lobbying for the screenings - normally priced at £35 – to be available free on the NHS.

Death from SADS in Italy plummeted by 90% when free screenings were adopted.

To book a session, running from 9am-4pm, see testmyheart.org