Charity ball to remember Colchester teenager Maddy Campbell

When 17-year-old Maddy Campbell did not wake up on the morning of September 14 it was devastating for her family, who were unaware the teenager had any underlying health conditions.

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

She then attended Honywood School in Coggeshall, before starting her career with an apprenticeship at Lipstick and Locks in Sudbury.

A post mortem examination has revealed Maddy had a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which caused her heart to fail.

Mum Kelly said: “I think the hardest thing to come to terms with is if this condition had been diagnosed, it could have been something which she could have lived with.

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

“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.”

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Maddy would have turned 18 on April 19 and had planned to have a ball for the milestone birthday as she missed out on having a prom due to Covid restrictions.

Her family has now decided to mark her birthday by hosting a memorial ball in her name.

The event is being staged at Marks Tey Hotel, and is being held to help raise money so the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young can hold a heart screening day in Colchester.

A total of £5,000 needs to be raised for a heart screening day which will see about 100 teenagers tested for heart conditions.

Kelly added: “If we can prevent this happening to another family and raise money for heart screening days then it will just feel like something maybe a bit more positive has come out of her death.”

All 160 tickets for the charity event sold out within three days.

To donate towards the heart screening day visit bit.ly/3tBiqej.