Defibrillator Donated To City School

The life-saving machine was donated to the school by lifelong Foxes fan Mick Bruce, who made the £1,500 purchase after hearing about the LCFC Foxes Foundation’s work with the Leicester City Defibrillator Campaign.

Club Ambassador Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall and Wreake Valley student Cydney Bruce handed over the life-saving £1,500 machine to Principal Tony Pinnock in front of an assembly full of year 8 students, as the Academy became the among first in the City to benefit from the initiative.

Students took part in a demonstration led by  Community Defibrillator Officer, Ian Reynolds, who then guided members of staff through a training session with the equipment.

Defibrillators are machines that give an electric shock to the heart in cases of cardiac arrest and their swift application in emergency situations has saved countless lives.

The LCFC Foxes Foundation continues to raise money for a number of worthy causes, and The Birch, who himself raised a huge sum in April through his 33rd annual end of season run, said at the event: “I’m delighted that Wreake Valley Academy is going to be the first recipient of a defibrillator and we at the LCFC Foxes Foundation hope it will be the first of many.

“East Midlands Ambulance Service have been giving out demonstrations and that’s a really important part of it, because maybe one day, the students and staff at this school can be in a position to save a life.

“After the incident with Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba last year, where he collapsed on the pitch from a cardiac arrest and his heart stopped for 78 minutes, there were discussions taking place within the LCFC Foxes Foundation about getting defibrillators in Leicester City schools and colleges and we’re pleased that those provisions have begun here at Wreake Valley Academy.”

It is believed that around 12 young people each week die as a result of heart problems, while that number rises to as many as 200 a day with adults – both statistics that emphasise the importance of placing defibrillators in the correct places.

According to the British Heart Foundation, who funded part of the defibrillator training for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, the chances of survival decrease by 14% for every minute that passes since a collapse without defibrillation.

Wreake Valley Academy Principal, Mr. Pinnock was understandably grateful for Mr. Bruce’s donation, adding: “This is a really important bit of kit for our school and it’s about making sure our students and staff are as safe as possible.

“We hope we will never have to use it, but we’re glad it’s here and we’ll continue to support this initiative into the future.”

For information on how to use defibrillators  or to discover more about the work of the LCFC Foxes Foundation and donating .