Target reached!
Organise and run water safety courses, first aid courses on the beach for those inte...
Vital defibrillator for Porthpean beach ❣️
Saint Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Aim
Raising funds to secure a defibrillator at Porthpean beach. An increasingly popular beach for numerous activities & pastimes ❣️
I've always being a keen swimmer, but joined The Blue Tits in the autumn of 2021. Using Porthpean beach for the majority of swim meet ups, throughout the winter, I became increasingly concerned that the nearest defibrillator, requires you to have the sturdy legs of a mountain goat - it's off the beach, up 2 very steep inclines, up a narrow lane to the little village, located in a rejigged phone box. Possibly half a mile from the shoreline. I wouldn't put money on the chances of anyone getting to it in time, should the worse of scenarios happen on the beach.
So the plan is to have a defibrillator with the protective, vital casing, situated on the wall of the beach cafe/shop. Perfectly visible, accessible for all. Yes, a mobile phone would need to be at hand to gain the access codes, but it's hoped most people have those now, or if not, after a quick shout out one could easily be found.
Once money has been raised and the defibrillator has been installed, there will be one, or possibly 2, sessions organised in how to use it and some basic first aid instruction for those interested. If it's deemed necessary, for more detailed water safety sessions, these can be looked in to of course.
I have managed to secure some funding from several sources :
Anonymously donated - £500
The defibrillator itself (£800!) donated by FLEET
£300 from Cllr James Mustoe's Community Fund
£100 from Cllr Jordan Rowse's Community Fund
£500 Porthpean Sailing Club
Annual service charge will be covered on an ongoing basis by St Austell Parish Council.
I am so grateful to every one of these secured donations. It's a huge dent in what we now need to fulfill the £2600 purchase.
Any money left over from this fundraise, it is hoped to be put into water safety course or donated to other local communities also looking to raise funds for a defibrillator. I will keep everyone up to date on this.
Porthpean beach is used by so many locals and holiday makers. At times it's been hard to find a space for your towel this summer. It's a fabulous beach with SUPs, kayakers, walkers, swimmers, sail & motor boats, rock poolers, and those creating the perfect sand castles.
Needing a defibrillator could be a requirement for any one of us - let's make sure if the worse should happen, we're prepared!
Thank you all so much. Liza Crabtree
This project successfully funded on 9th September 2022