DETERMINED staff at Great-Sankey-based Wates were inspired to organise a charity challenge after hearing about the heart-breaking story of a young woman whose boyfriend died suddenly at the age of 24.

More than £1,200 was raised last week during a sponsored walk in Tatton Park to increase awareness of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome following the death of Adam Lewis, from Old Hall.

Around 40 staff members from the Great Sankey office turned up for the walk, including some of their four-legged companions.

Angela Worsley, secretary at Wates, said: “The day was lovely, the weather was kind, it wasn’t too hot and we all took a little bit of a picnic and we stopped at different points.

“People took their dogs and it’s just lovely to chat to colleagues that you maybe don’t get to chat to in your daily work.”

Each year, the team at Wates organise a community event to raise money for a chosen cause, as a part of the company’s Reshaping Tomorrow Week they chose to support The Adam Lewis Effect.

Former Penketh High School pupil, Adam Lewis, 24, died suddenly four years ago from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

Following his tragic death, his family set up The Adam Lewis Effect in 2015 to raise awareness of the condition and provide life-saving heart screenings for young people.

Angela said they chose the charity because they wanted to support a cause while also promoting health and wellbeing.

“He was a local boy- there are a few guys in here that went to the local high school with Hannah, Adam’s girlfriend, so that’s how we knew it really.

She added: “I think it’s important to support charities who need it a little bit more and need the recognition more than anything.

“If we can raise awareness and save just one life, our walk will have been worthwhile.”

Around 12-16 young people in the UK, like Adam, die every week due to undiagnosed heart conditions, meaning heart screenings are crucial to preventing deaths.

Each screening costs £50 per person and all the money raised from the sponsored walk, goes towards providing this service for more young people.

So far, the charity has tested 1,000 young people for the syndrome, with 300 more tests planned for this year.