A Tadworth woman has not let a terrifying heart condition defeat her.
In fact she’s raising awareness of it to help young people.
Paula Simmonds, 33, was diagnosed with inherited Brugada syndrome in 2011, after her brother, Craig died of it the year before aged just 31.
The mum of two shares her story in a booklet which includes case studies from nine other people.
It was launched at the House of Commons during Cardiac Risk in the Young’s (CRY) awareness week.
CRY’s aim is to influence people under the age of 35 to get diagnosed earlier and learn to live with the potentially fatal heart condition, rather than focus on the negatives.
Ms Simmonds said: "People may think that younger people who have been screened will find it hard to come to terms with being diagnosed with a heart condition.
"But it would be much harder for their family to have to come to terms with losing someone so young because they had not known they had a heart condition that could have been monitored and treated.
"I hope that by telling my story, I can let anyone else out there who might be going through the same experience that I have, know that you are not alone.
"Help and support is available and you don't need to be scared."
It is estimated that one in 300 young people aged 35 and under who are tested by CRY are found to have a form of heart disease.
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