AMAZING FEET!
Daring fundraisers hot-footed it over burning ashes in memory of a young County Durham man who died from a rare heart disorders.
Family and friends of 22-year-old Levon Morland, from West Rainton, took part in a 20 ft. firewalk to raise cash for heart charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
Levon, who suffered from Wolfe Parkinson White disease which causes heart flutters, died in his sleep last January.
His brother, Aran, was among more than 20 people who took part in the sponsored firewalk at The Greyhound pub, in West Rainton.
Levon’s family got involved with CRY after his death to help raise awareness of a campaign to cut the risk of sudden death in young people with heart conditions. They are hoping to raise £20,000 for a mobile scan unit.
The fire walk was organised by Levon’s friend Susan Briscoe, 27, from West Rainton, who said the volunteers wanted to raise as much money as possible for CRY in memory of Levon.
Among those taking part were staff from the UGC cinema, in Boldon, where Susan works part-time.Levon Morland
DAREDEVIL TRIBUTE IS HOT STUFF
Loving brother Aran takes the plunge and walks across burning coals to raise cash in memory of his twin.
Levon Morland died suddenly from a rare illness after the twins had enjoyed a night out together.
And now Aran is raising much-needed cash to help research into the heart condition Wolfe Parkinson White Disease.
He made £2,000 from his dash across 20ft. of burning coals outside the Greyhound pub in the family’s home village of West Rainton, Co. Durham.
Afterwards, Aran said: “This is all to raise cash for research into the condition. It is also to raise the awareness of it.
“We got the idea after finding out about it on the CRY Web site. We all had a two-hour training session and it is a case of just psyching yourself up for it.
“You just run as quick as you can and take long strides. It doesn’t hurt, but your feet do get a bit warm towards the end.”
Since Levon’s death in January, Aran and his older brother, Brendan, 30, and their parents, Sandra, 50, and Jeff, 48, have raised almost £24,000 for the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity through sponsored events such as a cycle ride, the Great North Run and a social night.
Aran believes it is important to promote heart conditions in young people, because he was unaware of the scale of the problem until his brother’s death.
Levon had the condition for 10 years and opted not to undergo an operation to correct it.
His relatives say they would now advise Wolfe Parkinson White carriers to have the operation, which has a 97% success rate.