Shop staff ’s knid gesture
SHOPWORKERS from Hirwaun helped to raise enough money to buy a defibrillator for a school so a girl with a lifethreatening heart condition could play sport.
SHOPWORKERS from Hirwaun helped to raise enough money to buy a defibrillator for a school so a girl with a life-threatening heart condition could play sport.
Anna Davies’ daughter Libbie has long QT syndrome and she desperately wanted to take part in sports day at Hirwaun Primary School.
The syndrome, which affects about one in every 2,000 people, causes problems with the electrical activity of the heart.
The result of a faulty gene, the condition can cause blackouts and seizures often triggered by stress, sudden noise, exercise and sleep.
If not treated properly, the heart can stop and the condition can lead to death.
Libbie, 11, was diagnosed last October with the condition after testing positive for the gene.
Her brother, Jack, was diagnosed three years ago.
But when Hirwaun Primary School said they couldn’t get a defibrillator, her family had to find other ways of trying to help.
When Anna’s cousin Kathy Phillips and coworker Sue Webb at the Co-Op in Hirwaun found out, they started fundraising activites to try and raise the funds to buy the vital equipment.
By running raffles, Easter colouring competitions and cake stalls, the store managed to raise £1,700 in three weeks. With that money they were able to purchase a defibrillator for the primary school and training was given to all staff – and they had money left over to go towards another one.
Although the defibrillator was bought in May, it wasn’t delivered to the school in time for sports day in June so Libbie couldn’t take part.
But mum Anna hopes now other children with similar conditions will be able to participate in the future.
She said: “At least now it’s there. The box is outside the main office so there’s easy access for the school and the community.”
A cheque for the remaining £510 left over was presented to Aberdare Community School, where Libbie will start in September, which is now eager to raise the rest of the money to buy another defibrillator.
Anna’s son Jack currently attends the school and also has the same lifethreatening heart condition as his sister.
He currently can’t go on school trips because there is no defibrillator but hopes with the money raised for the third one he might be able to for the first time.
Anna said she wanted to thank the “amazing” people who helped her children. She said: “They were amazing and to raise the money in three weeks is just fab.”