A HASLEMERE couple have been named ‘Points of Light’ winners by Prime Minister Theresa May for raising funds and awareness for Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Stephanie and Rupert Hunter threw themselves into fundraising for the charity CRY after her son Sebastian died in 2004, aged 15. It was 11 years after her first husband, Sebastian’s father Howard English, died aged 32, in the same tragic circumstances.

Both had suffered from an unidentified inherited heart condition.

Following Sebastian’s death, the couple became dedicated campaigners for CRY to raise awareness of heart abnormalities in young people that can lead to sudden death.

They have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the pathology lab at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital, which has recently been relocated to St George’s Hospital, in Tooting.

Haslemere Rugby Club’s ex-England player Simon Halliday and both schools Sebastian attended – Amesbury School and Lord Wandsworth College – joined forces with the Hunters to raise £620,000 for the CRY Centre for Cardiac Pathology.

Haslemere Rugby Club holds an annual fundraising memorial match in aid of the charity.

Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people aged 35 and under die in the UK from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Sport does not cause the deaths, but it can increase the risk if the underlying problem remains undetected.

Stephanie and Rupert are the 611th and 612th winners of the Points of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

In a personal letter to the couple, the Prime Minister wrote: “Your fundraising efforts and work with Cardiac Risk in the Young have made an important contribution to awareness, research and treatment for heart abnormalities in young people.

“It is a wonderful tribute to the lives of Howard and Sebastian.”

The couple said: “It is a great honour to receive this recognition in memory of Howard and Sebastian, who both died suddenly aged 32 and 15 respectively, and for our wonderful and brave children, Sabrina, Titus, Marcus and Rory.

“However, the award is for everyone who has had their lives so cruelly cut short at such a young age, as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition. It is also for their amazing families and for the fantastic work that CRY does in supporting us all.

“In 2004, CRY listened and reacted to our family’s plea that multiple deaths in families with an inherited heart condition could not be allowed to continue.

“The CRY Pathology Unit was set up in Howard and Sebastian’s name, funded by the generosity of our incredible friends and the continued support of CRY patrons, especially Simon Halliday, John Inverdale and Pixie Lott.

“It is the leading cardiac pathology unit in the country and its existence is saving and has saved many lives in those families who have suffered the loss of a family member through sudden death with a previously undiagnosed cardiac condition.

“Without the vision of Alison Cox and the entire CRY team, this would not have been possible.

“Our family, like many, are so grateful to CRY for existing. We would have been alone and lost without them.”

CRY chief executive Dr Steven Cox said: “The incredible support from Stephanie, Rupert and all of their family and friends who have helped CRY in memory of Howard and Sebastian has resulted in over 1,500 families receiving expert advice on the cause of death, through CRY’s Centre for Cardiac Pathology.

“In the past, families would have to wait for up to two years to know the cause of death, but thanks to this pioneering service that was established due to Rupert and Steph’s determination and ongoing commitment to CRY, it now takes just two weeks.

“This not only provides bereaved families with essential information about how this tragedy could have happened but it also enables all first-degree blood relatives to be quickly referred and offered clinical tests to see if they may also be at risk of having the same genetic condition.

“On behalf of everyone at CRY, I would like to thank Rupert and Steph for everything they have done to help and support other bereaved families as they seek answers in the face of such devastating grief.”