THE bereaved family of Andrew Carter were proud to open the fourth annual Ealing Half Marathon yesterday, which had a record attendance.

Parents Colin and Joyce and Mr Carter's brother James set 7,000 runners off on their way on the 13.1 mile endurance race, as a tribute to the keen sportsman who was a resident of Ealing.

Mr Carter, 33, died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest near the finish line last year.

After starting the race in a sun-drenched Lammas Park, his Mum told the Ealing Times: “We felt so grateful to be asked and we said yes straight away.

“We really wanted to come today because it felt very fitting, almost like a closure for us to come back one year on.

“We were very flattered to be able to do this and we have learnt so much about the community of Ealing and why Andrew loved it so much - you feel like part of a family here.”

Mr Carter said: “We found it important to come along because of what happened to Andrew, and we knew that young people do die suddenly from this Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.

“It was only when it happened to Andrew and we found out a little bit more, that we realised that 12 youngsters a week die from this condition, that’s 600 young people a year and nobody seems to be able to explain why it happens.

“We found out about the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) charity and we thought it would be a good thing to support it and to try and raise the profile a little bit.

“We have this attitude that the money that could be raised this year, perhaps from the higher profile of the charity, even if it helps to save one young life, then that could be a lasting tribute to Andrew.”

Mr Carter further added: “We cannot bring Andrew back, but what we can do is possibly raise the profile of that condition a little bit more, and if it raises some money, and the money is put to good use, then I think Andrew would have liked that.”

Among those taking part were 221 members of the Ealing Eagles running club.

Mr Carter said: “Although Andrew was not part of Ealing Eagles, he used to socialise with them at the New Inn pub.

“He always spoke about the atmosphere there and he said that it was something he wanted to be a part of - they have been fantastic.”

Mrs Carter added: “We’d like to tribute [race organisers] Kelvin Walker and Sandra Courtney, because we always feel that this event is so well run and they have offered us tremendous support in the last year.

“In the first week of September when we had the memorial mile, they kindly named that in his honour and over a thousand pounds was raised for CRY from people running, so we are very grateful to them.

“The other people we would like to thank are the people on Ealing Borough Council for allowing the plaque to be put in the park and for dealing with it so efficiently and sympathetically; they have been wonderfully supportive as well, that means a lot to us.”

This year’s race saw the Kenyans of Run-Fast triumph, with Christopher Cheruiyot winning the race in one hour, five minutes and 41 seconds and fellow team-mate Teresiah Omosa becoming the first woman to cross the line in one hour, 16 minutes and 32 seconds.

Organisers said there were about 273 runners raising money for the Ealing Half’s chosen charity, Alzheimer’s Society, which hopes to raise around £70,000.

Race director Mr Walker said: “There has been more spectators than ever on the course this year, with more volunteers and a bigger race village.

“Our community spirit here draws people. It is becoming a big community event.

“120 people have come from overseas - 15 from Norway, 25 from America, some from Chile, some from Australia. We get people from all over the world which is amazing.”

For more information about CRY, visit: www.c-r-y.org.uk