A FIVE-A-SIDE football complex used by thousands of players will be a safer place to enjoy sweet victory or lament bitter defeat following the donation of a defibrillator.
The life-saving device will be mounted on an external wall at the Barrow Astro Turf Pitches (ATP) after being delivered to staff.
Its handover marks the end of the JF Hornby & Co Have a Heart campaign which was launched last February with the aim of donating defibrillators to communities that would benefit most.
The final defib package was handed over at the ATP to Caroline Tyson, Operation Lead for Leisure Facilities and Sam Higgins, a Sports Activity Officer, both for Westmorland and Furness Council.
Goal: Paula Boyd from JF Hornby & Co hands over a defibrillator and external housing unit to Sam Higgins and Caroline Tyson at the Barrow ATP.
Paula Boyd from JF Hornby, who travelled to the pitches to deliver the equipment, said: “The football facility is at the heart of a busy leisure area, and very close to residential properties. Having it externally mounted will mean it’s on hand, not only for footballers when the pitches are open, but for everyone enjoying the area, which of course includes Barrow Park.
“When the last ball of the day is kicked, the defib will be on hand through the evening and into the night, should any of the residents suffer a cardiac arrest. It was a pleasure to hand over the final defib as part of our Have a Heart campaign in the knowledge it may one day save a life.”
The JF Hornby & Co Have a Heart campaign was launched on Valentine’s Day last year with a pledge of £5,000 to deliver four defibrillators to communities most in need.
Due to the volume of requests, managing director Paul Hornby doubled the pledge to £10,000, meaning eight of the life-saving devices could be purchased.
Funding has been provided by The Hornby Foundation, which is the company’s charitable arm.
The defibs have been distributed across the Ulverston, Barrow and Millom areas in the following locations: Ford Park, Ulverston; Roa Island, Barrow; Abbots Vale Community Centre, Barrow; Barrow AFC, Barrow; Millom Park, Millom; Silecroft Village; Barrow ATP, Barrow and the Daltongate Business Park, Ulverston.
Hornby’s MD, Paul Hornby, who was awarded an MBE in the Kings New Year’s Honours list for philanthropy to the communities of South Cumbria, said: “Defibrillators save lives – but not all communities have access to one in the vital seconds or minutes that follow a cardiac arrest.
Community Support: The first defibrillator of the Have a Heart Campaign was handed over at Ford Park by Paul Hornby.
“Our Have a Heart campaign has been focused on providing these lifesaving kits in areas where they will have most impact.
“We’ve very much handed ownership of the locations to residents of the area who have been excellent in suggesting high impact areas for a defib kit. Our only condition has been that every defib is externally mounted and available 24/7.
“I’m pleased we now have eight defibs in areas of the communities we serve that will have the potential to save lives and it has been our pleasure to make that happen via the Hornby Foundation.”
Not all the defibrillators handed out via the Have a Heart campaign are live. Please keep an eye on JF Hornby social media for updates.
If you want to familairise yourself with the location of defibrillators near you, you can visit www.defibfinder.uk
