Over 200 walkers raise funds to combat ‘defibrillator deserts’

Walkers taking part in the London Ambulance Charity’s first ever fundraising London Life Hike on 8 September raised almost £25,000 – enough to pay for 15 defibrillators to be used by local communities in London.

More than 200 Londoners joined the Charity’s inaugural walk with a shared mission to help save lives and improve cardiac arrest survival in the capital for the London Heart Starters campaign.

The money raised will help London Ambulance Service buy more public-access defibrillators, which make a crucial difference when someone’s heart stops beating, for the neighbourhoods in London that need them most.

Before setting off on their 20km or 5km journeys that took in breath-taking views of famous London landmarks, ‘Life Hikers’ took part in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training and other educational activities at a vibrant event village at Battersea Park.

Head of London Ambulance Charity Jess Burgess said: “Our Charity’s inaugural fundraising walk was an important moment for London Ambulance Service as we galvanised Londoners and their families to help us save lives while taking in incredible views of the capital’s iconic landmarks.

“Every year London Ambulance Service crews go to over 14,000 cardiac arrests where a person’s heart has stopped beating and we know that the efforts of our ‘Life Hikers’ will help us save more lives.

“A third of all these patients require the use of a defibrillator – a vital piece of equipment that is incredibly easy to operate and gives people in life-threatening emergencies the best chance of survival when used quickly. Latest figures show that almost one person a week is saved by a bystander using a defibrillator kept in a public place in the community.

“London Heart Starters is a new pioneering fundraising campaign led by our Charity to raise money to buy these life-saving devices and ensure they can be used in the communities where they are most needed and improve survival rates.”

Recent analysis by the London Ambulance Service has revealed that dozens of neighbourhoods are ‘defibrillator deserts’ – where there is little or no access to a life saving device.

The data has revealed large discrepancies between communities in outcomes for cardiac arrest and the availability of life-saving devices. Households in more deprived areas are more likely to be in an area in greater need of additional defibrillators.

The Charity will work with walk participants, local councillors, and community groups from priority neighbourhoods who can help with installing defibrillators in their local communities.

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