More than 40 people on a Chester housing estate have now been trained in life-saving techniques including using defibrillators funded through the efforts of a big-hearted family man.
Fundraiser Lee Challinor was involved in the most recent training session run by North West Ambulance Service which took place at Blacon High School in the community where defibrillators are installed at every single school.
In addition, there are machines at Blacon Community Trust building with others on order for Blacon Children’s Centre, Blacon Youth/Delta Centre and the shops in Western Avenue.
Now Lee, backed by cardiac charity SADS UK, is broadening his ambitions beyond his estate, with a promise to deliver defibrillators to Saughall All Saints CE Primary plus Bluecoat Primary and Victoria Children’s Centre in the Garden Lane area.
He was inspired to fundraise for the £1,000 units because three of his six children, Georgia-Lea, 16, Elle-May, 12 and Millie, nine, have a heart condition called pulmonary stenosis.
Lee, a joiner, who lives with partner Melanie Lloyd in Melbourne Road, Blacon, said: “There were a variety of people at the training session, including a local councillor, plus parents and staff from the children’s centre.
“There was also a representative from SADS UK and the ambulance service delivered the training.”
Lee, who has undergone the training himself, said defibrillators were easy to operate as the machine gives audible instructions to the user at every stage.
He believes Blacon must be one of the best covered areas in the country in terms of number of defibrillators per square mile.
“It’s great news, we’re going great guns,” he said.
For more information and to make a donation, visit the Blacon Defibrillator Fund on Facebook, email blacon.defibs@yahoo.co.uk or call 01244 421027.
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