Life-saving campaign

Villagers in bid to buy defibrillators

Residents of a West Lothian village are hoping to raise thousands of pounds to buy three life- saving defibrillators for their community.

Alan Watson, Ann Greechan and Cathy Bryce are holding fundraisers to gather enough money to place three defibrillators in Stoneyburn.

The Levenseat Trust has already promised to purchase one defibrillator for the village which will be placed at the community centre.

However, Alan, Ann and Cathy are raising money to purchase two further defibrillators, which can cost over o £2000 each, to be placed at the top and the bottom of the village.

Cathy, who works at the Stoneyburn Community Centre, has been at the forefront of trying to get more defibrillators placed around West Lothian after the sudden death of her son-in-law, George Aitchison from Fauldhouse.

George passed away while on holiday in Crieff and at his cremation the family raised around £3000 and decided to buy a defibrillator for Jack’s Corner, the newsagents George owned in Fauldhouse.

Now Cathy is helping Stoneyburn install the lifesaving equipment.

The team will also organise classes to teach the community how to work the defibrillators.

Defibshop, who supply upply defibrillators across the UK, say that about 30,000 00 out of hospital cardiac arrests occur every year in the UK and that if a defibrillator is used and effective CPR is performed within three to five minutes of cardiac c arrest then the chance of f survival increases from m six per cent to 74 per cent.

They also state that for every minute that goes by where a victim of sudden cardiac arrest does not receive treatment their chance of survival decreases by ten per cent.

The group have two upcoming fundraisers which they hope will be enough to purchase the defibrillators. On Saturday, July 28, Stoneyburn Bowling Club will hold a fundraising night from 7.30pm until late that will see three acts entertain the audience. Comedian Graham Mackie, a finalist in the Scottish Comedian of the Year in 2008 and 2010 will be followed by local singer songwriter Megan Black and then DJ John Reidy. Alan s said: “All money raised will be passed to t the Community Ce Centre Management C Committee to be u used to purchase tw two defibrillators for th the Stoneyburn and B Bents sides of the vil village. ““Tickets can be purchased p from Stoney Stoneyburn Community Centre, The Ewington Hotel or Alan Watson on 077 259 8782. Tickets cost £15 for three acts and a buffet. “Tickets are priced at this to try and raise enough funds for the two defibrillators.” A coffee morning will also be held on August 24 at the community centre from 12pm to 2pm. You can also donate to the groups JustGiving page at https://www. justgiving.com/crowd funding/defibrillators 4stoneyburn.