Fundraising keeps Sunderland mum busy after husband's blood clot death

Jayne Outhwaite with family and friends who have helped her with fundraising in her husband Antonys memory.

Mum-of-three Jayne Outhwaite, 43, has supported worthy causes ever since husband Antony passed away this time last year.

The devoted dad complained of indigestion and was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

He passed out as the car taking him to medical treatment pulled in to the hospital car park before a team of 27 health staff tried their best to save him, said Jayne.

But tragic Antony lost his fight for life, leaving his wife and children Zack, now 23, Stephanie, now 20, and Ellie, now 13.

It was later determined he had died from a blood clot in his main artery.

“I was devastated,” admitted Jayne who works as a carer. But she somehow found the strength, with the help of family, to launch a fundraising drive.

Jayne and the family held a charity bike ride from Nenthead to Silksworth with 70 riders.

It was followed by a charity night where 300 people turned up.

Local businesses donated prizes for raffles and an auction and £5,245 was raised for the British Heart Foundation as well as £1,000 for the Coronary Care Unit, at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Big-hearted Jayne is planning to do it all again and this year’s Bike Ride and charity night will be held on Saturday, July 9.

Riders will once again tackle the 52-mile route from Nenthead to Silksworth before the charity night is held the same night at The Point in Sunderland.

Jayne admitted: “The fundraising kept me going last year. It kept me busy. I also did the Great North Run, and it was only when I was not busy that it all hit me, just after Christmas.”

Antony’s condition was thought by experts to have been hereditary and all his children had to have health tests.

They showed the girls were fine, but Zack had high cholesterol levels and is now being monitored.

Jayne said: “We wanted to raise both awareness and funds in Antony’s memory and we want to do it again.”

More details on this year’s charity events can be found on the Facebook page at Ant’s Golden Heart Charity Night.

People can also email [email protected].