Good things often come from tragic circumstances and after the heartbreaking and untimely death of a popular teenager last year, relatives set about making a difference by raising more than £80,000 in just 12 months to boost their research project.

Alexander Jansons sadly passed away in July 2013 when walking home to Penn after a night out with friends.

It was later discovered he had a heart condition called Myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart muscle.

This had been offset from a virus he had picked up while away in Croatia, and despite appearing to get over the worst, the heart condition caused it to have a fatal effect.

Following his death, his parents, Andy and Pamela, and brother, Tomas, were keen to do something to make a difference and in a bid to stop this tragedy from happening again they started the Alexander Jansons Foundation.

The main aim behind the foundation was to fund researchers over the next three years so new information about the condition can be relayed to medical professionals and healthcare charities.

By doing this they have to raise at least £80,000 each year, with Alexander’s father announcing at a Christmas party they had surpassed their target for 2014.

He said: “It is amazing to see the overwhelming support – he was such a popular young man.

“He was always the first to help others many have said, and, although it is sad to say, he just loved life and he was always at the centre of things.

“We have been humbled by the support shown to us by all of the people who have helped since the foundation was started.

“We have been busy arranging and hosting a number of events, which have all helped us reach and beat the £80,000 target.”

Andy is the managing director of Beaconsfield-based development company Jansons Property and he says he has used his contacts within the town to help get the word out about the foundation.

Earlier this year the current Mayor of Beaconsfield, Councillor Steve Jones, announced he would be supporting the charity during his 12-month tenure as mayor.

Mr Jansons highlighted this as a big help in his bid to raise the £240,000 over three years.

He said: “After Alexander died I tried to find out more information about Myocarditis, but there was very little out there, which I found shocking.

“It was after this that we started to look to the future and think we want to change this, let’s find out more about it.

“We have had a number of great events this year and we have been supported by so many people like the mayor Steve Jones, John Hamden Grammar School [where he studied] and his friends and family.”

Through events like the Christmas party at Revolutions Beaconsfield, Alexander’s family were able to call on his many friends to help continue the fundraising effort.

Although, the final total for the last year could not be confirmed as we went to print, it is understood it was more than £83,000.

Mr Jansons is now looking forward to a number of charity events in the New Year, including the Stoke Park Country Club Mayors Ball in March, where they hope to raise a big portion of the 2015 target.

To find out more information about the good work of the foundation, or to help raise funds, please visit www.alexanderjansonsfoundation.org