Lifesaving equipment funded at Sandal Park in Doncaster
Doncaster parkrun, is a free, weekly, running and walking event which takes place every Saturday at 9am in Sandall Park.
Doncaster Central MP Rosie Winterton joined joggers when they unveiled a new defibrillator after one of the parkrunners, Michael Wakefield, collapsed and subsequently died while running at the parkrun in September.
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Hide AdIt is now known that Michael would not have been saved had a defibrillator been available at the time, but it was decided that the Doncaster parkrunners would launch a fundraising campaign to get a defibrillator for all park users to have access to.
In the UK 30,000 people every year suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital and only one in ten will survive. Having access to a defibrillator means the likelihood of survival is increased significantly.
Within three days of launching their fundraising appeal Doncaster parkrun had raised enough money to purchase the equipment and within five days enough money for a secure Cabinet had been raised too.
In total £2,071 was raised with donations coming from the entire running community in Doncaster and Michaels friends, Matthew Berris and Dale Thompson, collected money too and added £457 to the total.
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Hide AdEvent director for Doncaster parkrun, Mark Hudson, said: “It has been an incredible response from our parkrunners who have dug deep to purchase this potentially life saving equipment and it is fabulous that it is also available to any park user should it be needed. Whilst this was a tragic event it is a great legacy to Michael that something so positive has come out of it.”
“We have been helped significantly by the Friends of Sandall Park who have provided massive support throughout the process with their excellent knowledge of the park, such as where to place the cabinet.”
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