A BRAVE mum whose husband died from an undiagnosed heart condition is to take on a challenging trek in his memory.

Suzanna Smith’s husband, Jamie, was laughing and joking with friends just minutes before he died from acute heart failure, caused by coronary heart disease, at the age of just 44, in August.

Mr Smith, a driller for Geo Site Surveys, had not been unwell or shown any symptoms, except tiredness, which he attributed to a hard week’s work.

Now, together with daughters Rhianne, aged 21, and Rebecca, aged 19, Mrs Smith, from Atherton, will be taking part in the British Heart Foundation’s nine-mile Hadrian’s Wall hike on April 27 to help raise funds for research into heart disease.

Mrs Smith, who works in travel sales for Cresta Holidays, said: “Jamie had got home from work and we had a nice dinner before some friends came over to say hello. There was lots of laughing and joking and then, after a while, when the friends left, Jamie sat down with a beer to watch the football.

“I was in the other room on my computer but I could hear Jamie and our son Benjamin in the living room talking.

“Then suddenly, I noticed Benjamin’s voice change. He said ‘get up daddy’ and I knew instantly something was wrong.”

The family will join nearly 300 people on the popular hike across the world heritage site, which aims to raise £24,000 for essential research into heart disease.

Mrs Smith, aged 37, of Oxford Road, said: “I’m raising funds for the BHF in the hope that one day soon we can eradicate this deadly disease. I chose to take on this particular event as I had always wanted to visit Hadrian’s Wall.

“Jamie promised he would take me one day, so I thought taking part would be the perfect tribute to him.”

To sponsor Mrs Smith, visit justgiving.com/Suzanne-Smith18.

There will also be collection boxes in the Rope and Anchor pub, in Bolton Old Road, and the Mediterranean Fish Bar in Market Street, Atherton.