DENTISTS are set to go a taste of their own medicine and go through the pain barrier to raise money and awareness in memory of a beloved colleague who died suddenly.

The trio of teeth technicians from The Dental Studio in Bergholt Road, Colchester, will be having waxing treatments in May and have roped in Colchester councillor Martin Goss (Lib Dem) to get involved too.

Sponsorship money is being collected for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) after dental nurse Elise Fitzpatrick died last year from a symptomless condition called sudden adult death syndrome aged just 24.

Principal dentist Stephen Pitt said Elise's death affected everyone at the surgery.

He said: "It was a massive shock for all of us.

"I remember getting the call on the Saturday and had to tell all of the other members of staff what had happened.

"It is a condition which affects your heart but is symptomless until something goes wrong but it can be picked up by an electrocardiogram scan, which is why we want to raise awareness of CRY.

"She was amazing - the life and soul of the practice with an amazing smile and a laugh which always got others smiling.

"As well as that she was very hard working in her role as patient co-ordinator where she was the first point of contact for people - she was the first face people would see.

"It was a massive shock because one day she was there and next she wasn't.

"It took a long time for a report to come back on how she died so we did not know why she had gone, it was a real struggle.

"She worked here for 18 months but it was like she had been here for years and years."

Dr Pitt will be having his back and chest waxed on May 20 and admits he is feeling nervous.

He said: "We are quite hairy chaps, especially Ian and I am very nervous because I think it is going to hurt.

"But it is for a really good cause.

"On the same weekend some of our female staff are doing a 10km run so hopefully it will be a good couple of days of fundraising.

"We wanted to do something a bit bold."

To donate visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/waxadentistforelise