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A pioneering campaign from the London Ambulance Charity to fund defibrillators for the London communities that need them most has raised £201,600.
The total means the London Heart Starters campaign is half way to meeting its ambitious goal to buy 200 life-saving defibrillators across the capital – and it’s all thanks to the incredible generosity of Londoners making donations or who have signed up to the London Life Hike.
Defibrillators bought as a result of the campaign are now installed ready to help people whose hearts have stopped beating – known as cardiac arrest – in high-need areas like Stamford Hill West, Barking East and Havering-atte-Bower and Chase Cross. Two of these devices are the result of a partnership between the London Ambulance Charity and the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Community Defibrillator Funding Programme.
Mick Smith, a member of the King’s Heart Church in Havering, has worked closely with the Charity to get a defibrillator installed outside his church.
He said: “Last year, while attending first aid training at the church, it became clear to me that having a defibrillator on site wasn’t just important for our club members, but for the entire community.
“Having gone through multiple open-heart surgeries, I understand just how vital it is to have life-saving resources like defibrillators accessible. This isn’t just for our church members; it’s for anyone in need.”
“This is a pivotal moment for our Heart Starters campaign as we reach the halfway point in our fundraising goal. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported the campaign so far by either fundraising or donating money. You have made a real difference as these defibrillators save lives every year.
“But we’re not done yet. We are calling on Londoners to continue this life-saving work, helping us install more defibrillators and raise awareness. Together, we can make London a city where everyone has access to the tools they need in a cardiac emergency.”
Sam Wilcox, Community Defibrillator Manager and Paramedic at London Ambulance Service.
When someone has a cardiac arrest – which is when the heart stops beating and pumping blood around the body – the early use of a defibrillator more than doubles their chance of survival. Currently, analysis from London Ambulance Service shows 21 neighbourhoods where there is no access to a defibrillator, and 129 neighbourhoods where there is limited access for the local population. Please help us eradicate this gap and ensure every Londoner has a defibrillator close by.
You can help raise money for the life-saving Heart Starters campaign via the dedicated London Ambulance Charity website here, and/or if you are feeling really inspired, join the next London Life Hike in September to raise money for this vital cause.
London Ambulance Service Charity is also keen to hear from Londoners in its target neighbourhoods to host a defibrillator in their area.
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