Campaign to populate Mansfield with defibrillators

A campaigner is on a mission to have life-saving defibrillators installed around Mansfield.
Michael Holmes is campaigning to get defibrillators installed around Mansfield, pictured from left are One Stop shift manger Ian Eadson, Michael Holmes and shift manager Zara ByerMichael Holmes is campaigning to get defibrillators installed around Mansfield, pictured from left are One Stop shift manger Ian Eadson, Michael Holmes and shift manager Zara Byer
Michael Holmes is campaigning to get defibrillators installed around Mansfield, pictured from left are One Stop shift manger Ian Eadson, Michael Holmes and shift manager Zara Byer

Michael Holmes, aged 31, has made it a personal goal to raise more than £4,000 so at least three heart-starting machines can be dotted around the town, to give those suffering heart attacks the best possible chance of survival.

He is a close friend of Mansfield couple David and Angela Hosking, who lost their daughter, Joanne Griffiths, to sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in 2007 when she was 31.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

SADS can have no prior symptoms and affect young, fit and healthy people, who can collapse with a heart attack without warning.

The chances of surviving SADS is remote, unless a defibrillator can be used on the patient.

Mr Holmes said: “If you look at the statistics on survival, if there is access to a defibrillator within minutes of a cardiac arrest they have a much greater chance.

“SADS is not about old people, it’s about children and young people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They can be the victims and is basically an undiagnosed condition that you won’t know you have until it happens.”

The sales manager is hoping to put one defibrillator at the One Stop shop on Madeline Court in Mansfield and is n discussions to place one at a secondary school and provide another to the Mansfield First Responders – trained volunteers who react to 999 calls.

Mr Holmes said: “We’ve raised more than £2,000 so far and are hopefully going to get the rest.”

He is hoping a quiz night on Friday, July 22, at Mansfield Town FC’s One Call Stadium, will help him hit the target.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In addition, more than £2,000 worth of prizes have been donated to a raffle, including return flights to a European destination and an Apple iPad mini tablet.

n For details on the quiz, or to buy raffle tickets, call Mr Holmes on 07816 957442 or email [email protected]

Related topics: