Last November a local IT Manager working on the Woodlands Court Business Park, Bristol Road, set up a crowdfunding page to raise enough money to provide a public access defibrillator. Sophie had suffered a cardiac arrest aged only 28 in 2018 and collapsed in front of her 2-year-old daughter.

Thankfully Sophie’s husband was there and was able to call an ambulance and perform CPR until they arrived with a defibrillator and managed to restart her heart.  Sophie’s work colleagues at Scan Film or Store were inspired to try and raise the £1,500 needed to buy a public access defibrillator to be mounted on the wall of their offices for anyone in need to use 24/7.

Friends, family and other businesses on the estate pledged their support with donations or offers of free expert help to get the defibrillator operational. A local electrician and electrical wholesaler donated cabling and expert fitting and the cash donations came pouring in too. Before long the target figure had been reached – but the figure kept on growing. In the end the total raised stood at nearly £2,500.

A new top quality defibrillator suitable for adults and children is now installed in a secure wall cupboard at the company’s office on Woodlands Court both supplied by the London Hearts charity who provide discounted defibrillator equipment. They also supplied specialist training on how and when to use it and several donors, staff from Scan Film or Store and other businesses on the estate joined in. (Photograph)

Left over cash from the appeal will be split between the Bristol Heart Institute at the BRI and SADS a charity that raises awareness and does research into sudden adult death syndrome. Cardiac arrest can affect any of us – and we might not be as lucky as Sophie was. A huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported the appeal – your generosity might save someone’s life!

Contact Mark Yates @ SFS ltd  01278 450500 or mark@scan-film-store.co.uk