SIXTH-Form runners have helped take a bereaved family's fundraising efforts up to the £50,000 mark.

Levon Morland, 22, of West Rainton, near Durham City, died in January of last year of the rare heart condition Wolfe Parkinson White syndrome.

Since then his family and friends have been raising money for the national charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry) to fund research and pay for screening to detect the syndrome and other similar conditions.

Seventy students and staff at Durham Sixth Form Centre - where Levon was a former pupil - took part in the Great North Run and raised £2,000.

Levon's father Jeff, an official with the union Amicus and singer with the rhythm and blues band Barking Billy and the Scrapyard Dogs, said: "I was choked to see that 70 people would run the Great North Run and choose our charity."

The family's fundraising has included charity nights featuring Jeff's band and various events including a cycle ride and firewalk.

He has also sought sponsorship from companies and unions and put screening on the political agenda through regional politicians including Labour MPs Kevan Jones and Dari Taylor.

Jeff and former GMB union official Jack Doyle are hoping the fundraising done so far will help launch a programme of heart screening for youngsters in the region using Cry's specialist equipment.

Jeff said the condition could lie undetected in otherwise healthy and active youngsters but could be discovered by a simple test and rectified by a simple operation.

"You normally think that people who keep themselves fit would last the longest but it isn't."

Teacher Richard Miller said: "I was choked when I received the money the students raised because it brought back memories of Levon."