The death of gifted young footballer Craig Lunt stunned his family, friends and the Island's sporting community.

Craig, 25, died suddenly from a heart defect neither he nor his parents knew he had.

But following the tragedy in April 2005, his mother Paula battled through grief and depression — and the terrible knowledge that she had passed on a defective gene to her son — to start up a foundation to try to stop other families going through the same nightmare.

Craig's Heartstrong Foundation has since raised a staggering £200,000 to pay for young sportsmen and women to have their hearts screened for defects.

Two screening clinics have so far been held in the Island, which have tested nearly 1,000 young people — and found a number of heart conditions that have previously been undetected. At least one owes his life to the charity.

Now Craig's mum has been nominated for a Pride in Mann award by her own sister Collette Cox who revealed Paula suffers from a genetic heart condition herself.

Paula, 50, who was diagnosed with genetic heart condition Long QT just days after her son's death and now suffers blackouts and hearing loss as a result of the condition, has nominated fellow members of the Heartstrong committee for the same award.

Nominating her sister for an award in the charity and volunteers category, Collette, of Willowbank Gardens, Braddan, said: 'My sister lost her beautiful son very suddenly and through her loss started the foundation so no other mothers is in the place she is in.

'The foundation has screened nearly 1,000 young people so far and found quite a few poorly hearts they didn't know about.

'Although she has the Long QT she works so hard for the charity and never, ever complains about her condition. We are so proud of what she has accomplished.'

Nominating the committee, Paula said from her home in Ballabrooie Drive, Douglas: 'The whole committee have worked so hard and along with the Manx people have raised more than £200,000, done two screening clinics and found several life-threatening defects.

'The whole ''A-team'' work hard, never complain and are totally committed to the charity. They deserve a medal.'

Craig made his mark at St George's football club scoring 22 goals in 23 matches and helping them to win the Railway Cup on Boxing Day and the FA Cup just five days before his death.

He was found dead in bed by his mum two days before her birthday.

'He didn't suffer. There was no trauma. His heart just stopped and he didn't wake up,' Paula said.

The post-mortem examination could find nothing wrong with Craig and the genetic condition was discovered only when a Home Office pathologist suggested that his parents were tested — and the problem with Paula's own heart was found.

Subsequently her mother and her aunt have also been diagnosed with the same condition.

Paula, who fell at home after having a blackout the weekend before last, fracturing her right cheekbone, said: 'I feel it was my fault and I'm to blame as it was me who gave Craig the gene. I didn't know anything about it until I was DNA-tested.

'It's 50/50 whether I'll wake up each day. I'm now getting symptoms, thought to be caused by the utter shock of losing Craig. I'm getting blackouts without warning and I've lost 60 per cent of my hearing in my right ear.

'But losing Craig was the worst thing possible that could ever happen to me so my condition doesn't affect me. Nothing touches me except all those who give to the charity and that never ceases to amaze me.

'My mum is 70 and looks fantastic. She's never been ill, I can't even remember her having a cold. And yet she's still got the gene and so has my aunt.'

After Craig died, Paula went into a deep depression.

'I had a breakdown - I was in a black hole,' she said. 'For two and a half years I couldn't go out even into my own garden.'

But now she has been able to throw herself into active fundraising.

'If it stops just one mother going through what I've been through it will be worth it,' said Paula.

'I know Craig will be proud. But if I could swap anything to get him back I would. I just wish it had been me and not Craig.'

Thankfully, Paula's other son Dean, 19, has been given the all-clear.

>> Click here to download and print a Pride in Mann nomination form (pdf)