Students from across the north west teamed up to raise over £2,000 for research into the condition which tragically killed a young sports student at Pendleton College.
Daniel Young was only 16 when he was struck down on the football pitch in 2005 minutes after scoring a goal for his side.
Investigations later proved he had an undetected heart defect.
On Tuesday his parents Craig, 40, and Dionne, 45, from Atherton were at the Dronfield Road college as teams competed for the top honours in the Daniel Young Memorial Tournament, and raised money for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
Dionne said: “We haven’t watched a football match since Daniel died and it was a bit emotional watching the lads charging up and down the pitch.
“We were thinking ‘Anyone of these boys could have been Daniel.’
“Despite that, it was a lovely day and I’m glad we went. It brought back many happy memories and touched us beyond belief that students who never knew Daniel were prepared to go to so much trouble.
“The college did a wonderful job and we can’t thank them enough for helping us to raise the profile of CRY.
“The FA have now supported testing youngsters for the condition but we need to get the message across to other sports, particularly in the run up to the Olympics in 2012.”
Rachael Hooper, curriculum leader in the sport and PE department, added: “The day was a great success.
“We had fun and raised awareness for CRY, which was the main thing.
“Everyone was very moved to see Daniel’s parents there.
“It must have been hard for them, but their presence made the day that bit more special.”
The boys match was won by Pendleton College, from St Helens.
CRY was founded in May 1995 to raise awareness of cardiac risk in the young.
It offers bereavement support to those who have suffered a tragedy through a network of specially trained individuals who have themselves suffered a similar loss.
CRY also promotes heart screening, ECG testing programmes and contributes to medical research.
Its newest patron is Little Britain star David Wallaims.
