CAERPHILLY resident June Thomas has been officially presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her work fundraising for the charity CRY and Jack’s Appeal following the tragic death of her son.

Her Majesty the Queen's representative for the County of Gwent, The lord-lieutenant, brigadier Robert Aitken CBE, presented the medal to Mrs Thomas accompanied by the Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council Cllr. John Bevan earlier today (Monday 11th September).

June Thomas’ son Jack was 15-years-old when he died suddenly.

After his death in 2012, Mrs Thomas established a valleys branch of the UK charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) as well as Jack’s Appeal, a campaign to get all secondary schools in Gwent fitted with a defibrillator.

The appeal, which was backed by the charity Welsh Hearts, achieved this in 2015 and has since expanded into Gwent primary schools.

To date, Mrs Thomas has raised more than £69,000 for CRY, which pays for a specialist heart screening team to attend schools to screen pupils for underlying and undiagnosed heart defects.

Added to this, she has also raised more than £67,000 for Jack’s Appeal which supports the purchase of defibrillators for schools across Gwent, which has so far delivered 49 machines to schools.

Mrs Thomas is also currently supporting lead petitioner Phil Hill in campaigning to the Welsh Government to introduce Jack’s Law, which would make it a legal duty for all Welsh public buildings to have a defibrillator.

She has worked with medical organisations and the media to promote and support Jack’s Law and has the backing from medical practitioners and the charity Welsh Hearts.

Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE lord-lieutenant of Gwent said: “It is a great honour to present this award to June celebrating her outstanding fundraising efforts. What she has managed to achieve is commendable and will potentially save lives in the future”.

Mrs Thomas said: “What happened to Jack was heart breaking, creating a fund in his memory has truly inspired me to do all that I can to provide lifesaving equipment to schools and community facilities. My aim is to provide a defibrillator to every secondary school in Wales and with the help and support of charities and the generous public that target seems within reach.”

Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council Cllr. John Bevan said, “I am absolutely thrilled that June has been recognised for her fundraising. She is a truly inspiring woman who has achieved so much after such a tragedy. CRY is one of the charities I have chosen to support during my year in office as Mayor which makes the ceremony all the more special.”