Colchester teen Maddy Campbell inspires £22k bid for heart screening

Maddy Campbell’s family were left heartbroken after the teenager’s sudden death when she did not wake up on the morning of September 14, 2021.

Examinations carried out following her death revealed she had a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which caused her heart to fail.

Her father Chris Campbell said: “There was no sickness, no accident. As well as losing Madison, who leaves a massive void in our lives, there’s nowhere to put your emotions.”

Maddy was born and raised in Colchester and went to primary school in Copford.

Maddy Campbell, who died in her sleep in September 2021 aged 17 (Image: Family supplied pictures)

She then attended Honywood School in Coggeshall where she was well-liked.

While still at school, Maddy worked on Saturdays at a hair salon in Halstead.

Since her death, her family have pushed to raise funds for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), hoping to allow the charity to hold heart screening days at schools across the area.

Thanks to the remarkable sum raised, boosted by a memorial ball staged at Marks Tey Hotel, Maddy’s mum Kelly hopes to be able to fund three screening days.

Two screening days were held over the weekend at Honywood School, testing more than 150 youngsters.

READ MORE: Charity ball to remember Colchester teenager Maddy Campbell

“We are looking to raise even more, so we can fund two next year,” she added.

“Lipstick and Locks, where she worked, also did free hair cuts and treatments to support us.

“We’ve been so lucky, I’m humbled by the support.”

Maddy with her mum Kelly and her sisters Summer and Darcy (Image: Family supplied pictures)

She added: “If we test up to 190 people and there’s one or two people who have something wrong, it will be worth it.

“CRY are hoping to try and bring in legislation which will secure more permanent testing, meaning we wouldn’t have to rely on fundraising.”

Mum Kelly previously told the Gazette her daughter could have lived with the condition had it been detected and diagnosed.

“If she could have possibly had a pacemaker or medication then she could have lived a happy, normal life,” she said.

“That’s the hardest thing for me to deal with as a mum because I just can’t tell you how many times I’ve racked my brain to think ‘Was there a sign?’ and there really wasn’t.”

On the remarkable support shown in Maddy’s name, Kelly added: “She’d be so socked. She was quite modest, she would never believe she’d have as much of an impact as she has had.

“She was well-liked, it has been lovely hearing stories about her from all sorts of people, stories I probably wouldn’t have otherwise heard.”

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