A GRIEVING mother whose husband died suddenly from a rare heart condition is fundraising in his memory.

On November 13, Karla Edwards, 28, from Stratton will hold a fundraising evening at the Haydon Wick Club to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

Last November Karla’s husband and “whole world” Carl, 35, suffered an aortic dissection, where a tear in one of the heart’s main vessels causes blood to leak from the organ. Despite efforts to save him the father-of-three died within an hour.

The couple had been together 11 years and shared three children - Bailey, 10, Summer, nine, and four-year-old Lacie.

Karla said planning the fundraising event had helped her manage her grief.

“It will be for the anniversary of Carl’s death which was on Remembrance Day and it helps me to have something to focus on,” she said.

“If the money raised helps even one person not to have to go through this then it will be worth it.”

Care assistant Karla said there were no signs that her husband of seven years was unwell.

“He had put on a few pounds and had high cholesterol but there was nothing that would have made me think that he was at risk,” Karla said.

“He came in from work one day saying he had chest pains, then suddenly he collapsed on the floor. We took him straight to the hospital.

“It all happened so quickly, within an hour and I was just in complete shock. I just walked out of the house after that and didn’t come back.

“I love and miss him every single day. We got together when I was 16 and he was just my whole life.”

Following Carl’s death Karla and her children moved in with her mother Heidi Mansfield.

“I’m so grateful for the huge support my mum has given me along with my friends and family,” she said.

Karla said cleaning company manager Carl, known affectionately as Carlos Fandango, was a natural father.

“He was a real family man, he loved the kids so much and he was a great husband and so organised. He was a joker, he constantly bantered. He was so determined that if he wanted something he would make it happen,” she said.

Nine months on Karla has channelled her energies into raising money for the fundraising evening which will feature a raffle, auction, children’s entertainer, disco and Karla’s close friend Sam Carey doing a sponsored head shave. A teddy bear emblazoned with one of Carl’s favourite phrases is also available for people to sign.

Karla said: "After Carl lost his dad Tony one of his favourite sayings was 'Time is precious, waste it wisely' so it’s only right to use that to remember him.”

To buy tickets for the event email heidi.mansfield@btinternet.com