• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Thursday August 29 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Heating firm funds defibrillator for young runners

A potentially life-saving portable defibrillator has been funded by John Williams Heating Services to provide peace of mind to young people taking part in Chippenham’s Junior Parkrun.

John and Debbie Williams of John Williams Heating Services – which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year – donated most of the money needed to secure this potentially life-saving machine to ensure that prompt action could be taken if someone suffered a cardiac arrest during the weekly Sunday runs from Monkton Park.

Adam Freeman, a volunteer and run director for who first founded Chippenham Parkrun back in 2016, said: “John and Debbie are wonderful people and very supportive within the community. John is a keen runner and both have been part of our adult Parkrun which takes place each Saturday.

“I put out an appeal to raise money for a portable defibrillator after someone was taken ill on a Parkrun elsewhere in the UK. It made me think that we needed to do something about it in case it happened here.

“It’s not just about our young runners in this case. They often run with parents, grandparents, guardians or carers so literally anyone could be taken ill and this equipment helps in those vital first moments while waiting for an ambulance.

“We did raise some money but it was John and Debbie who stepped in meet the substantial shortfall and they’ve kindly offered to donate new batteries when they are required.”

The portable defibrillator, which costs around £1,000, will now be carried in a backpack by a volunteer during every junior Parkrun on a Sunday morning around a 2km circuit.

Debbie and John, who also live in Chippenham, didn’t have to think twice about helping out. John has already raised £1000s for the British Heart Foundation after losing his own father to a cardiac arrest.

He said: “This machine saves lives, even though you hope it will never be needed. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest it delivers an electric shock to try to get the heart started. No one can predict when such an incident could occur and to help bring peace of mind to everyone who takes part in the junior Parkrun is an honour.”

John has already run many kilometres this year as both a personal challenge and to raise money for charity at various events across the UK. He’s supported in this by Debbie.

“We both appreciate the value of exercise and fitness,” Debbie said. “Yet we also understand that sometimes a cardiac crisis occurs and it cannot be predicted. These amazing machines even have voice instructions designed to help people take the right steps to try to save a life.”