Wimboldsley pensioner smashes defib fundraising target

Julian Adams has called Wimboldsley home for more than half-a-century, and while there are two defibrillators there already, they’re in places not always accessible to the public, such as the village school.

The 76-year-old decided it was time for this to change.  

A person who suffers a cardiac arrest has a five per cent chance of survival if first aiders use CPR alone. Early use of a defibrillator increases that chance to around 50 per cent.

Julian sought advice from the charity Sudden Arryhthmic Death Syndrome UK (SADS UK), and fundraising efforts began on Sunday, September 8. 

This was done though a mixture of Facebook appeals, collection boxes at Leighton Hospital, and with the help of Julian's friends and colleagues at Middlewich Slimming World.

The former Bisto Foods engineer reached his £2,028 target, to cover the cost of the defibrillator, accessories, cabinet, and the electrician’s installations fees, by Tuesday, October 29.  

Julian is also a keen amateur woodturner and managed to sell some items he made on his lathe, with takings going straight into the pot.

Julian, 76, says the fundraising was 'a bit stressful at times' which he put down to 'his time of life' (Image: Julian Adams) While he hasn’t lost anyone close through cardiac arrest, he says he wanted to contribute to the village he’s called home for more than half-a-century.  

He said: “My wife and I are very lucky. Wimboldsley is such a lovely place to live. 

“I’ve lived in this village for 50 years, and rather than just take, I fancied giving something back for a change.

“Both my daughters work at Leighton Hospital as nurse practitioners, where defibrillators are used quite regularly. They were a big help with the fundraising.

“So were the parish council, members of the Lea Drive and Wimboldsley Facebook group, and SADS UK, who provided fundraising T-shirts and collection boxes, and helped us source the defibrillator itself.  

“I’ve enjoyed the fundraising, though it has been a little bit stressful at times. It’s probably because of my time of life.

“My wife, Sue, is a diamond for putting up with me while I’ve been doing it.

“I’ve also offered to help Standthorne, the neighbouring village, with some fundraising if they choose to get a defibrillator too.”

SADS UK was set up after the sudden and unexpected death of 16-year-old Ashley Jolly in May 1998.

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK and mum to Ashley, said: “We’re delighted to have organised a community public access defibrillator for the Wimboldsley residents.

“The community fundraised for it themselves and did a fantastic job raising the money so quickly.

“We’re pleased they will now benefit from having a defibrillator in the vicinity to restart the heart of there is a cardiac arrest nearby."