EIGHT weeks ago, family man Richard Barnes of North Pembrokeshire was an active, outgoing father and grandfather, but a Pulmonary Embolism, (presumed Deep Vein Thrombosis), took his life on March 17, just two days after celebrating his 60th birthday.

To highlight this devastating, silent and sudden illness, his wife, Lynda Barnes is hosting a raffle at Canolfan Hermon near Crymych on Saturday, May 25 as part of the village Spring Fair.

"Richard wasn’t a ‘couch potato’ – he was a fit active man who didn’t smoke, was often out walking or cycling and watched what he ate, he even bought a rowing machine and a cross trainer to use on a daily basis because his father had had a stroke and for 15 years was unable to do anything for himself and Richard didn’t want to end up the same in his later years. He did his best to watch his health," said a devastated Lynda.

"On the Saturday before he passed away, he had a water infection and was prescribed antibiotics. He was also stressed as his mother was very poorly and we spent time at her home in Newport, Monmouthshire, but other than that he was well. The night before he died he thought he had flu and had a swelling on his lip but he slept all night. That morning I got up and brought him tea in bed and he decided to go downstairs to get a biscuit so he could take his antibiotics, when he came back upstairs, he couldn’t breathe and then collapsed," explained Lynda who contacted the emergency services.

Richard was taken by ambulance to the Royal Gwent Hospital as he was staying at his mother’s house, and within 100 yards of leaving the house, he had passed away.

"The paramedics performed CPR on him all the way to the hospital, then a team of doctors worked on him for half an hour, even shocking his heart, but the ‘clot’ had stopped the oxygen to his heart and it couldn’t be restarted," said Lynda who thinks it is vitally important that everyone has a regular MOT with their doctor.

The money raised from the raffle will go to Thrombosis UK – a nationwide charity. Thrombosis has been – and remains – a major cause of death in the United Kingdom yet astonishingly, this fact is not widely known. Most people have little or no understanding about the causes and effects of thrombosis, and how it can be prevented. Every year, an estimated 25,000 people in the UK would die from venous thrombosis if not treated.

"I’ve already been given a £10 voucher from the butcher in Crymych, a local window cleaner has said he will donate a voucher and I have an Avon package coming. I shall also make a cushion," said Lynda who is open to receiving any raffles prizes.

She concluded: "My aim is to promote awareness of this Silent Killer. Not enough people know about it and I didn’t know much about it or this charity until Richard had died. Apparently anyone can have a blood test to see if they are at risk and it can be treated by a low dose of aspirin. I just want to be able to save a life."

Lynda can be contacted on lynbarn56@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to donate a raffle prize.