DONATIONS are continuing to be made to Jack's Appeal with a rugby match bucket collection raising £300 while the sale of special hoodies added £500 to the fundraising.

The Campaign has teamed up with June and Grant Thomas, of Oakdale, as part of Jack's Appeal which aims to get heart defibrillators into every secondary school in the Rhymney valley area and Gwent.

Mr and Mrs Thomas' son Jack, 15, died suddenly of a suspected heart problem while at his girlfriend's house in Newbridge in February 2012.

Jack, a Taekwondo star who stood at a towering 6ft 3in, had no previous health issues and was competing towards the European Championships at the time of his tragic death.

A collection towards the appeal was held at Blackwood RFC's home match against Ebbw Vale in the SWALEC Championship - a game the visitors won 52-12 - where just under £300 was raised. The club then generously rounded the sum up.

Mr Thomas, who recently donated his winnings of a pub quiz night to Jack’s Appeal, said: “We’d like to thank Blackwood committee and both set of supporters for raising quite a great amount.

“Blackwood RFC have supported us right throughout and have allowed us to hold functions at the club free of charge."

In recent weeks, Mrs Thomas has raised a further £500 by selling JT hoodies, which includes a logo designed by her friend, to dozens of people, including members of Tab Life netball team in Newbridge.

Mrs Thomas added: “We’ve had orders of hoodies from all over, including Dublin, and we’ve received donations from Unilever and Abingdon Flooring in Croespenmaen.”

* Tickets for the The King and Queen of Hearts Summer Ball (in memory of Jack’s Appeal) are £45 each, and includes a sparkling drinks reception, a three-course dinner and entertainment. It will be held at the Hilton Newport Hotel on Chepstow Road, Langstone, NP18 2LX, on June 7, 2014. People are being encouraged to arrive at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. To book tickets to the ball contact Welsh Hearts fundraising office on 02920 786521 or email fundraising@welshhearts.org.

To make a donation to Jack’s Appeal, or donate the proceeds of a fundraising event, send cheques made payable to Welsh Hearts charity, either to its headquarters at Temple Court, 13a Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA, or to Newsdesk, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 3QN. Please write ‘Jack Thomas defibs appeal’ on the back of the envelope.