The recent fundraising black tie event has raised more than £5,000 to help support the work of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

The gala dinner was held on Saturday 26 April and took place at the LCFC King Power Stadium.

The Trust was set up following the death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries, 14, who suddenly collapsed and died without warning in October 2012, while out jogging near his home.

Since Joe's death, his family and friends have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness and greater understanding of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), and other heart conditions that can all too often go undiagnosed.

Steve Humphries from the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust said:

"Since forming the Trust, we've been really busy visiting schools and sports clubs to raise awareness of SADS, donating defibrillators and providing free, specialist training in life-saving skills. We've also set up an annual conference for healthcare professionals.

"12 young people, aged 12 to 35 years old, die in Britain every week from undiagnosed heart problems. We believe many of these deaths can be prevented.

"Fund-raising events like this one are absolutely key to our work. They allow us to continue spreading the message about SADS, putting it firmly on the national agenda, and they help to pay for more of the vital life-saving equipment and training we want to share with the community."

The black tie dinner included a silent auction of sports memorabilia. JHMT patron and rugby legend Martin Johnson auctioned off an England shirt, signed and framed, and other sporting items, organised by the company Wonderland Memorabilia, were also sold off.

Alongside Martin Johnson, former LCFC players Muzzy Izzet, Paul Ramsey, Kevin Reed and Julian Joachim were also at the event.

Entertainment was provided by local singer-songwriter Jersey Budd and local function band Swaggar. All the musicians donated their time for free.

Steve added:

"I'd like to thank everybody who helped us put on this event, in particular event organiser Sue Foreman, the team of Trust volunteers and so many kind-hearted organisations who worked so hard to pull this together.

"The musicians who gave up their time so generously provided fantastic entertainment for the evening, and everyone who turned up made the event a truly fitting celebration of the fun-loving, big-hearted person Joe was."

The Trust is now continuing its work to raise awareness of SADS, and is a key partner in the ongoing Heartsafe project across Leicester and Leicestershire.

The Heartsafe project's aim is to ensure that every young person passing through secondary education in Leicester and Leicestershire schools is provided with training in emergency life support – starting with Year 10 pupils in the first instance.

The training provided to schoolchildren includes vital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques, and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

JHMT will also be visiting more local sports clubs, and staging the second annual SADS awareness week and conference in October, for medical practitioners.