£25,000 to give away... Tokens inside

TODAY WE TALK TO NORTH EAST HEARTS WITH GOALS

What will you do with this year’s Wish money?

We would like to place more defibrillators in the North East, but would also like to see our mobile screening van out on the road screening hearts.

This money could help us with insurance, petrol or supplies for the heart scanning equipment.

Tell us about your group.

We have been going for four years and are solely ran by two volunteers and rely on family and friends to help out when we have events.

We help schools, grassroots sports clubs, communities and everywhere that would benefit from a defibrillator in the North East.

What kind of activities take place at your group?

Defibrillator awareness sessions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Who is the longest serving member of your group?

Kelly Best and Christine Stephenson who have both been involved for four years.

Tell us about the biggest or best activity or event your group has organised.

Two years ago we worked with North Tyneside Council to get defibrillators into its schools.

We donated more than £20,000 and with non-uniform days we managed to get almost 50 schools their own defibrillator and make them heart safe!

What is your group’s proudest moment to date?

The saving of seven lives through defibrillators we have helped place in the North East.

Now our mobile heart screening van is equipped with ECG and echo machines to be able to park at any venue and screen hearts.

Why should someone join your group?

Anyone can volunteer to help us at events or to fundraise. Its an amazing feeling seeing a defibrillator placed in your local school, football club or community and know that the those using that facility or living in that community are heart safe because you gave a couple of hours spare time.

What makes you proud to be from the North East using five words?

The generosity here is amazing.