DOZENS of Romsey students have had free heart screenings as part of an initiative aimed at raising awareness and paying tribute to a former student.

Philip Standing was playing cricket when he felt unwell and died suddenly in 2012, leaving a wife and two sons.

The 30-year-old from North Baddesley, who was a former student at The Mountbatten School, died of undiagnosed high cholesterol.

But after his death his mother, Sue Fisher, decided she would do whatever she could to raise awareness of undiagnosed health conditions and prevent other parents from going through what she

has.

This is why she has partnered up with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) to provide heart screening to students at The Mountbatten School.

“I want people to know that these things do happen and we could screen to prevent this from happening,” said the 67-year-old.

“We got a heart, let’s check it works properly,” she added.

She said her son had never experienced a heart screening and had not undergone any thorough health checks so was not aware of high cholesterol.

“He had always been well and healthy,” Ms Fisher added.

On Tuesday she spent a day at The Mountbatten School to support the 102 students who had heart screenings.

The pupils, along with teachers and staff members, raised £5,000 to fund the initiative.

RE teacher Kelly Brooks helped them organise it: “It has been very positive, the students have been very calm.”

Dr Bashar Ibrahim, who was at the school on the day, said everyone between the age of 14 and 35 should have a a heart screening.