Kentish Express Ashford & District
Funds could save lives in husband’s memory
A firefighter will be trained to give emergency medical care to people living in rural areas.
Paul Boxall, from Hastingleigh, is hoping to become a Community First Responder (CFR) following the death of his close friend Harry Pickering earlier this year.
Mr Boxall, who is married with two sons, is now one step closer to achieving his goal after Harry’s wife Karen Pickering handed over the £1,620 that was raised at a service celebrating Harry’s life, to the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), which will provide the training, on Sunday at a presentation at Ashford Hockey Club.
CFRs are trained volunteers who attend emergency calls received by the ambulance service and provide care until the ambulance arrives.
Mr Boxall, 46, who played cricket and golf with Harry, said: “Following what happened to Harry, I think rural parts of the county are in need of this for the times ambulances can’t get there quick enough.
“I’ll hopefully be able to cover Brabourne, Wye, Crundale, and even if I save one person it will be worth it.”
Sunday also saw the official introduction of a defibrillator at the Ball Lane hockey club, a device which can be used to restart someone’s heart if they suffer a cardiac arrest.
Funds for the machine were raised through several fundraisers, including a barbecue organised by Harry to say thank you to those who helped save his life in April after his first heart attack.
Sadly, Harry died shortly before the event in July of a second heart attack, but it still went ahead in his honour.
A case for the defibrillator was donated by SECAmb, so that it
Paul Boxall, who is to be trained as a Community First Responder, with Karen Pickering
‘Following what happened to Harry, I think rural parts of the county are in need of this’
can be kept outside and used by members of the public, as well as players at the club.
Sunday also saw the Ashford Antiques narrowly defeated 1-0 by the England LX Club and celebrated two players, including Gurney White, who have been with the club for as long as 60 years.
Mrs Pickering said: “It was a great day.
“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the fund for the defibrillator at the Hockey Club and also all those who had contributed at Harry’s celebration to the fund for the setting up of a Community First Responder.
“The members of the Hockey Club have been really supportive to me during the months he was recovering from his first cardiac arrest and also since he died.”