A YEAR after the sudden death of a Duchy College student, her family presented a much-needed piece of equipment to the local surgery in her memory last Wednesday.

Nadine Bennett, 21, was discovered dead in her bedroom in a college house in Callington by her father, Alan Murray, after failing to turn up at the college for her equine studies HND course last January.

Her family wanted to do something in her memory and set about raising funds.

The original intention was to raise money for a heart monitor for the Gunnislake Health Centre, but as they already had one Nadine?s doctor, Jane Warren, suggested a 24-hour blood pressure monitor instead. At present patients have to travel to Derriford Hospital for 24 hours monitoring.

Dr Warren said: ?There is a significant number of patients whose blood pressure is high when they come to the surgery but low at home. This piece of equipment will enable us to monitor it at home and prevent over-treatment.?

The presentation, although for Gunnislake, took place at Callington Health Centre, with Dr Warren receiving the monitor from Nadines?s brother, Alex, on behalf of the practice.

Donations had come from individuals and organisations, including Duchy College ? which gave the proceeds of a student rag week last year ? the Queen?s Head at Albaston, and Delaware School ? which Alex attends and which held a non-uniform day.

Nadine?s mother, Susie Murray, of St Ann?s Chapel, said Nadine died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, which Nadine?s aunt had died from in 1999. It was a condition which was genetic in the majority of cases.

?We are trying to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms,? she said. In order to do this, the family has also set up a South West helpline in conjunction with SADS UK to help reassure people who have lost someone in their family through the condition.

Susie said the helpline, which had been set up under the title Nadine?s Fund, would help the national organisation in trying to reach the South West.

?We wanted something good to come out of Nadine?s life, to benefit the local community and reach other people who may have lost someone through SADS,? Susie said.

Nadine?s father Alan said: ?Life goes on ? it has to. We have had some really sad moments, but this was something positive we could do.? He added that without everyone?s help it would not have happened.

The helpline contact number is 01822 834491. Leaflets and posters are also available and will be distributed locally.