Crowdfunding defibrillators: working together to make an impact

I first spoke to Charlie Edinburgh in the summer of 2019, not too long after the news about his father’s untimely passing had shocked the world of football.

Justin Edinburgh had just guided Leyton Orient back to the EFL after two seasons in the National League and they looked well placed to continue their upward trajectory under the former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth defender’s management.

My club Cheltenham Town had been handed a tricky opening day fixture at Brisbane Road, which should have been an afternoon of celebration and optimism.

However it turned into a mournful occasion following the devastating news that the 49-year-old had died from a cardiac arrest, only six weeks after steering the east London side back to the football league.

Our supporters wanted to honour him, turning to Crowdfunder to fund a moving tribute at the match. We raised more than £2,000 to produce a large flag, featuring Justin and the words He made you dream again. The gesture was widely reported by the media and appreciated by the emotional Orient fans on the day. Any monies left over were donated to a fledgling foundation created by Charlie in memory of his late father.

Fast forward three years and we’re proud to announce a new collaboration with him and the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation, encouraging communities to work together to purchase defibrillators.

According to the British Heart Foundation over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year but only one in 10 people survive. Defibs and early CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) save lives and can double the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest. They’re also relatively inexpensive, often costing in the region of £1,000. 

But in the current climate, cash flow is tight for grassroots sports clubs and organisations and many charities such as the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation are facing plenty of challenges of their own in the post-pandemic world. This is where Crowdfunder comes in, working as an effective community engagement tool.

This new campaign is more than just increasing access to the vital equipment around the UK. Crowdfunding shines a spotlight on all sorts of societal issues and this work will drive greater awareness of the foundation’s founding principles. Access to defibs, education around CPR and legislative change are its primary objectives and this partnership will only support progress in all three. 

But this of course goes beyond the world of football, and sports more generally. Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere and often without warning so increasing public access to defibrillators in every corner of the country will rapidly increase the chance of survival.

From our perspective this work encapsulates the power of crowdfunding. It’s a journey that started out as a simple community project and grew into a collaborative campaign, aiming to create a lasting legacy through the platform.

We’ve proved it time and again that we can make a real difference by working together and this partnership will be no exception.

Find out more: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/crowdfund-a-defibrillator