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Brenda Edwards has said her son Jamal Edwards left her a ‘letter of wishes’, leading her to set up a trust in his name.
The Loose Women presenter’s son died aged 31 in 2022 from cardiac arrhythmia after he took recreational drugs. The music entrepreneur helped launch the careers of Dave and Ed Sheeran.
Edwards, 56, appeared on Good Morning Britain ahead of the first fundraiser for the Jamal Edwards Belief Trust on Wednesday evening.
Sitting in the studio with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, she told how her son had left her a ‘letter of wishes’ she has been working to complete since his sudden death.
‘Jamal was an amazing young man and very generous, very selfless,’ she said. ‘He was always a collaborator and a person that would bring people together and introduce this one to this one, give this one a leg up, and give this one a job.
‘So that’s why when he passed, he left me a letter of wishes and I’ve been trying to work on it ever since.’
Edwards went on to detail what had been included and how she has tried to incorporate it into the trust, including a paid internship programme for young people and a sanctuary home for care leavers and those at risk of homelessness in west London, which is set to open next year.
She added: ‘The third thing that he spoke about was a community creative hub space. So we’ve partnered with Peabody Trust and Mount Anvil, we’re going to be launching our first self-belief community hub, which will serve the community.’
In the ITV studio, Madeley went on to ask whether the work she’s undertaken in Jamal’s name helps her to cope with losing her son so young.
What is cardiac arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm, caused by a fault in the electrical system that makes your heart beat.
This can make a person’s heart beat too slowly, too quickly, or in an irregular way. Having an irregular, often fast heart rhythm is the most common type of arrhythmia.
The most common symptoms of arrhythmia include palpitations, dizziness, fainting or feeling as if you may faint, breathlessness, chest discomfort and fatigue, according to the NHS.
Many people diagnosed will not need treatment or will only need regular check-ups.
‘No, I’m never going to make sense of that to be honest,’ she replied. ‘I think his legacy is an important one.
‘It’s even more important that we keep it going, which is why the fundraiser tonight is our first official fundraiser.’
Edwards also said that Ed Sheeran, whose career her son helped to launch, had used his namesake hot sauce brand to create a cocktail to be served at the fundraiser.
Jamal found fame after setting up the music platform SBTV in 2006 and was credited with helping to launch a string of UK music acts. He was also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and in 2014 was made an MBE for his services to music.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV from 6am.
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