Family of tragic Doune teen who died of rare heart condition praised for fundraising efforts

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The family of a Doune teenager who tragically died of a rare heart condition have been praised at Scottish Parliament for their awareness raising and fundraising efforts.Callum Ferrier, described as fit and “sports-mad”, was aged just 16 when his dad Gilbert found him dead in bed.The popular McLaren High School pupil was later found to have died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle.His family have since raised more than £30,000 for the Cardiomyopathy Association in the hope of helping other families avoid similar tragedy.As well as regular charity ceilidhs, Callum’s brothers Sean, Darren and Neil have raised thousands of pounds through a host of events including 10k runs, half and whole marathons, and even a 64-mile charity trek in the Sahara Desert in 2012, as well as challenges in Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China.This week, Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament congratulating the Ferrier family on their “incredible efforts” raising £30,280.90 for Cardiomyopathy UK since Callum’s death on February 12, 2008.The motion also praised a number of individuals and businesses who have supported the family’s fundraising.Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle.

It affects the structure of the heart and reduces its ability to pump blood around the body. It affects around 1 in 250 people in the UK.Speaking in the Holyrood chamber, Ms Tweed said: “Callum Ferrier was a tall, happy young man.

He played shinty and had just taken up rugby. With hopes of becoming a motor mechanic he had his whole life ahead of him.“In 2013, 16-year-old Callum went to bed with a sore head.