Parents work with son's school and Hand on Heart to protect hearts of students

Friday, 12 October 2012 09:47

Local Independent school, the Knoll, have been presented with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) package by Hand on Heart after fund-raising at the school. Long-standing paramedic, Resuscitation Officer and supporter of the charity Jo Bradley presented the defibrillator to the school’s Headmaster Mr Nigel Humphreys. 

The campaign to fundraise for a defibrillator for the school was started by Lorraine and Lloyd Wallace, whose son William (5) attends the school. This is an issue close to the hearts of Lorraine and Lloyd as William was sadly diagnosed with a genetic heart abnormality soon after birth. Their determination to place a defibrillator into their son’s school was not just out of concern for William and his condition, but also to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and protect the hearts of the other 99 pupils at the school. The number of children who die at school each year after suffering cardiac arrest is currently 270, and this is a number that we are committed to making a thing of the past by working to provide defibrillators and training for schools across the UK.

After reading about Fabrice Muamba, the Bolton football player, who collapsed and almost died from a cardiac arrest whilst playing football, and later listening to the story of a father whose son had sadly passed away after suffering from a cardiac arrest at school, Lloyd went online to research more about SCA and defibrillators, and came across our website. Interested in the grant programme, the couple had a meeting with Mr Humphreys, after which they committed to work together to fund-raise for a defibrillator for the school. They received an initial grant from the charity of £250 and have since raised another £1011 through fund-raising activities at the school. These have included non-uniform days, donations from parents of children at the school and collecting donations at the school’s annual summer fayre. William himself raised £230 of this over the summer holidays from friends and relatives. They also received a £500 donation from HSBC which brought them up to a grand total of £1511. Our Gold Package, which includes the unit and accessories plus basic life support training for 30 children and 8 adults, costs £1730. We were so impressed with Mr and Mrs Wallace's enthusiasm that we awarded the campaign with the remaining amount needed of £219!

If you would like to donate to Hand on Heart then please visit our justgiving page or text HAND88 £3 to 70070