THIS year has been an amazing one for Bromsgrove youngster Emily Faulkner’s Every Heart Matters Campaign to put a defibrillator in every school in the district.
The total is now up to £4,830 and the ten-year-old is within touching distance of her fourth life-saving device, having already put defibs in Parkside Middle, Dodford First and Stoke Prior First schools.
Emily was inspired to launch her drive by Rob and Maggie Underwood from Charlotte and Craig’s Saving Hearts Foundation (CCSHF) and she has been working with them on the campaign.
Research shows people’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest increase from six per cent to 74 per cent if a defib is used within three to five minutes.
This month Emily gave the campaign a pre-Christmas push.
In the last few weeks she has met with members of Bromsgrove Flower Club and received a donation of £100, attended the Christmas fete at Sidemoor First School, which she used to attend, and held an event at Banners.
At the Christmas fete, Emily sold her products and held a guess the bear’s name competition and number of sweets in the jar, raising £63.
At Banners Foods in Aston Fields she had a small stall, selling cupcakes donated by Denise from Banners.
She also sold her Every Heart Matters pens.
Emily’s aunt Gail Fry said: “This was a lovely gesture from Denise and all the staff who supported the day and helped raise £100.58.”
In 2018, Emily will be releasing a new ‘memory’ design in her clothing range to honour and remember Charlotte and Craig. People will be able to have the names of lost loved ones on the garments.
Emily has received a lot of praise from the CCSHF for everything she has done in 2017 to potentially save lives in Bromsgrove.
Rob from CCSHF said: “Thank you all so much for supporting our charity, Emily and its aims to have life saving defibrillator’s everywhere.
“We very much look forward to working with Emily in the new year and helping her create a Heartsafe Bromsgrove.
“Thank you to all of Emily’s family and Focal Image for their amazing support and kind generosity with CCSHF. Without it we would not have been able to do as much as we have.
“Thank you all so much from the bottom of our hearts.”
Visit localgiving.org/fundraising/everyheartmattersx to donate to the cause or www.facebook.com/Everyheartmattersx for more on the campaign.
Go to cccshf.org.uk or search for Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation on Facebook for more on the charity.
