VOCAL group TOK has launched its Guardian Angel Foundation to educate Jamaicans on the implications of untreated hypertension. The foundation is the brainchild of group member Craig 'Craigy T' Thompson.

Thompson said the organisation's main aim is to make blood pressure testing free to the poor.

"It's really and truly to educate people as much as possible about hypertension and the diseases that come from it," Craigy T told the Observer.

He and his colleagues in TOK are preparing a press launch of the project at the Mall and Everybody's pharmacies in Kingston on February 18th and 25th, respectively.

An official launch of the foundation is planned for World Hypertension Day on May 17.

"I feel that with more knowledge about this subject a lot of people will be able to prevent it or in a worst case scenario, to manage it," Craigy T said.

He pointed out that the foundation was inspired by his own struggles with hypertension, a disease known in medical circles as the silent killer.

"I was on medication for about five or six months. I had a condition called left ventricular hypertrophy (usually a marker for disease involving the heart) and it was causing the heart to beat slower than normal," he explained. "Because of that the doctors were concerned because it was caused by hypertension. The doctor said I was a walking stroke."

Craigy T said he got another wake-up call while driving to the gym two years ago.

"Something jus' tell mi to go and get a ECG (electrocardiogram) and dem said to mi, 'bwoy, I don't think you should go to the gym at all. I think you should wait until wi send the result to a specialist'."

After making stringent adjustment to his diet and going on a rigid exercise programme, the once chunky singer lost a lot of weight and says he made a full recovery.

"I had to reduce my weight, that was the most important thing because the extra weight was what was causing my heart to work harder. So I cut out a lot of processed food," he said. "I don't really eat processed food anymore and I have tripled my fruit and vegetable intake."

TOK, which also includes Alistaire 'Alex' McCalla, Roshaun 'Bay-C' Clarke and Xavier 'Flexx' Davidson, have been around for 20 years.

They are best known for hits like Footprints, Gal You Ah Lead, Chi Chi Man and Eagles Cry.