Dig deep and help says health chief
The chairman of an influential health group has called for the people of Wolverhampton to get behind the Express & Star's campaign to fundraise for defibrillators in the city.
Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, who leads Wolverhampton council's health scrutiny committee, said the #heartsafe15 campaign would save lives.
The former mayor has joined with his Heath Town ward colleagues, councillor Jasbir Jaspal, and councillor Caroline Siarkiewicz to donate £100 to the campaign.
He said: "Health is very important to all of us here in Wolverhampton. The Express & Star's campaign is very welcome and I would urge everyone to dig deep and donate as much as they can.
"When I was Mayor of Wolverhampton, people were very generous so me and my fellow ward councillors are happy to club together and donate £100 to this fantastic cause.
"Timing is all important when it comes to health and these defibrillators can be the difference between life and death."
The Express & Star has joined with defibrillator fundraisers AEDdonate to run the campaign.
This week the first defibrillator was paid for after donations by Wolverhampton Homes, United Living, Wates Living Space and builders merchants Travis Perkins. It will soon be mounted to a wall in the city and added to the West Midlands Ambulance database to be used by the public in an emergency.
AEDdonate fundraiser Jamie Roberts said: "It is fantastic to see councillors in Wolverhampton getting behind this campaign and we are incredibly grateful for the generous donation.
More than 100,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest in Britain every year and the Express & Star has launched the #heartsafe15 campaign to fund potentially life-saving defibrillators in the city.
Slade frontman Noddy Holder is backing the campaign as is Olympic archer Alison Williamson and former Wolves director Kevin Threlfall whose life was saved by a defibrillator.
Using defibrillators in the first few minutes of an arrest means the chances of resuscitation can increase by 70 per cent.
Wolverhampton council, New Cross Hospital, and West Midlands Ambulance Service are also supporting the cause.
More than 70 prices are still up for grabs in a raffle to raise money for the campaign. Tickets cost £1.
l Businesses or groups wanting to get involved can call AEDdonate on 01785 472 224. You can also give by text message by texting 'AEDW50' to 70070 followed by how much you want to donate.
Alternatively, you can donate online via www.crowdfunder.co.uk/wolverhampton-aed-campaign
We are also encouraging people to take part by tweeting us with the hashtag #heartsafe15
