A PICTURE of a talented rower who died of a heart attack at the age of 25 is being used to raise awareness of cardiac problems in the young.

Scott Rennie, from Great Comberton, who was tipped to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, collapsed and died suddenly during a training session at the Molesey Boat Club, in Surrey, in March 2009.

He is one of 12 faces on a postcard showing people killed by a heart condition before they were 35.

His parents, Steve and Stevie Rennie are supporting the campaign by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) which is unveiling the postcard today (Thursday).

Since his death, the family has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death as well as funding a three-day screening for 300 local young people in Leamington Spa.

They have also raised more than £115,000 through Scott’s memorial fund.

Scott’s funeral was held at Pershore Abbey and attended by about 400 people. The coffin of the former head boy at Kings School, Worcester, was carried into church by pall-bearers in rowing club blazers ahead of the service.

Mr Rennie's life was celebrated afterwards in a large gathering at his home.

Alison Cox, chief executive and founder of the charity, said: “Our powerful postcard campaign is continuing to help us emphasise the importance of screening and the fact that so many of these tragic cases affecting fit and healthy young people could have been prevented. “Eighty per cent of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms – which is why CRY believes that screening is so vitally important.”

More than 150,000 postcards have been distributed to raise awareness and lobby support among MPs.

The charity’s screening programme now tests 12,000 young people across the UK every year and one in every 300 of those who CRY tests will be identified with a lifethreatening condition.

For more information, visit c-r-y.org.uk.