A FAMILY has donated a defibrillator to a rugby club in memory of a much-loved mother of three who died from a heart condition.

Joanne Griffiths collapsed in front of her two-year-old daughter at her home on November 10, 2007.

Now her mother, Angela Hosking, along with husband David and family and friends have raised funds of around £1,200 to donate the equipment and provide training to Old Penarthians RFC.

They are doing so in memory of their daughter Joanne Griffiths who died unexpectedly from a heart condition aged just 31 years old.

The mother of three was with her two-year-old daughter when she collapsed in her home.

Joanne’s mother, Angela Hosking hopes that this type of donation will help to prevent other families from going through a similar experience that hers has gone through.

She said: “Joanne was the life and soul of the party and a very friendly person. The family was totally devastated when she died.

“We say now that she is the brightest start in the sky. But we want to turn a negative thing into a positive thing by helping other people and making sure another family go through what we’ve been through.

“A lot of people Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (Sads) UK trains have a look of horror when they first see the defibrillator as they don’t think they can use it but after training they realise how easy it is.”

Mrs Hosking’s stepson, who is also called David, plays for Old Penarthians and will be on hand to assist with the training day.

With the help of cardiac charity Sudden Adult Death Trust UK (Sads UK), they are pleased to be able to attend a defibrillator training session at the club on Friday, February 5 at 1pm.

Anne Jolly, Founder of Sads UK, the Ashley Jolly Sad Trust said: “Sads UK is pleased that Old Penarthians Rugby Football Club will benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises to restart the heart if there is a cardiac arrest.

Using CPR alone provides a five per cent chance of survival but early use of the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent.

This is why Sads UK is so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in the community.”

Sads UK Big Shock Campaign aims to make defibrillators available in all schools.

It has the support of the ambulance services, Welsh rugby star Jamie Roberts who is a patron and most recently Dame Helen Mirren who heads the charity’s defibrillator leaflet.

Mr Roberts said: “My sports career and interest in medicine has made me acutely aware of the need for defibrillators to be readily available when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.

“Automated External Defibrillators are easy to use and can save lives by restoring the heartbeat. I would encourage having defibrillators widely available.”

Mrs Hosking said that she hopes it will never be needed but is glad that is there if it is.

She added: “My daughter was fit and healthy so it can happen to anyone. That’ why we want to keep raising awareness.”

This summer, David Hosking will be joining a team from Sads UK to cycle 299 miles from London to Paris to raise funds for the charity in memory of his stepdaughter.

To donate to the cause, visit http://www.justgiving.com/David-Hosking2.

If you would like To discover more about putting a defibrillator in your community, call Anne Jolly at SADS UK on 01277 811215, email, info@sadsuk.org or visit www.sadsuk.org.