A TEAM from a Taunton health insurer spent the entire time of a Somerset cricket match rowing, running and cycling as a tribute to a colleague's teenage daughter who died suddenly earlier this year.

The eight members of staff from WPA covered 285 miles during eight hours of the One Day Cup game against Sussex last Friday (August 11).

Their efforts raised £1,833 in sponsorship for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which WPA employees have been supporting since the tragic death of 18-year-old Freya Davidson in January. Overall, they have so far raised £3,174 for the charity.

Five-time Olympian and WPA ambassador Jo Pavey popped onto the stand to support the WPA effort adding to the miles.

WPA sales and marketing director Mark Southern said: "For the first time in ages, I could not have wanted a game of cricket to end more quickly.

"We ached, and are still aching, making it all the more worthwhile for such a great charity.

Somerset County Gazette:

"I’m also grateful to Somerset County Cricket Club for letting us fundraise at The Cooper Associates County Ground and extended thanks must go to the overwhelming generosity of the supporters and spectators who rose to the occasion, raising nearly £2,000 for such an amazing charity."

Chief executive of CRY Dr Steven Cox said: "Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people in the UK die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition and 80 per cent of these will have no signs or symptoms of a heart defect.

“CRY now tests over 25,000 young people each year, aged between 14 and 35 and our UK-wide screening programme is only possible because of the incredible support CRY receives from families, communities and local businesses.

"With this in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone from WPA for their very impressive eight-hour event at Somerset County Cricket Ground, fundraising in memory of Freya.”