FAMILY and friends of a man who died after suffering a succession of heart attacks, celebrated his life with a fundraising event.

Steven Taylor, from Greenmeadow in Cwmbran, was 44 when he had his first heart operation, a triple bypass.

Thirteen years later, at the beginning of this year, Mr Taylor started complaining of chest pains and went on to suffer three cardiac arrests.

He was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital for treatment and lived for another two weeks before passing away.

He had been a long term supporter of British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru and a payroll donator every month.

And his family decided to continue supporting the charity in celebration of his life by organising a fundraising evening and continuing with the plans that Mr Taylor had started for a charity golf day.

Friends and family hosted the golf day at Greenmeadow Golf Club, which raised £1,400 for the Intensive Care Unit at The Royal Gwent Hospital.

A further fundraising evening was organised at Cwmbran Working Men’s Club by Mr Taylor’s wife, Theresa, and daughters Claire and Kerry.

The night was a sell out, with Elvis tribute act from Torfaen, Darren ‘Graceland’ Jones, performing in front of 240 people.

Kerry said: “We could not have done it without the support of family and friends.

“And it was even more special knowing that dad would have enjoyed it, too.”

The night raised £3,255 for the charity, which included a £500 donation from Mr Taylor’s colleagues at the process department of Burton’s Biscuits, Llantarnam, £100 from Focused Project Engineering and £100 from Chemical Corp Ltd, Bedwas.

Catherine Campbell, from the BHF Cymru, said: “We are grateful to receive this fabulous donation and thank Kerry and Claire for their efforts in arranging the night.

“This money will be used to fund research, some of which is carried out locally.”