Ebbw Fawr Learning Community was recently presented with a defibrillator as part of Jack’s Appeal, as the campaign’s target nears its halfway point after just nine months.
Back at the end of January this year the Argus teamed up with June and Grant Thomas, the parents of Jack Thomas who died suddenly in February 2012 from an undetected heart problem.
A campaign was launched to provide defibrillators to every secondary school in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley.
Recently Ebbw Fawr Learning Community became the latest school to be presented with a defibrillator, after ASDA Brynmawr raised more than £3,000 following a series of fundraising events.
It means 14 schools have now directly benefitted from Jack’s Appeal, while at least five schools have bought their own defibrillator.
Nearly £17,000 has been raised in the appeal’s first nine months, with the defibrillators costing around £1,000 each.
The campaign aims to have all 43 schools in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley provided with access to a defibrillator – a potentially life-saving machine.
Since its launch, Jack’s Appeal has also sparked another campaign to get a legislation to make heart defibrillators available in every public place in Wales.
Newport nurse Phil Hill, who is leading the petition, spoke alongside Mrs Thomas at the Senedd in Cardiff earlier this year to discuss the probability of introducing Jack’s Law. A debate is due to take place in the Senedd chambers, in front of First Minister Carwyn Jones, surrounding the issue next month.
Mrs Thomas said:
To me it’s been successful in getting the word out. It’s just as important [as raising money] to raise awareness.
When I was at the school on Friday, kids were coming up to me and asking me how Jack died and they were totally shocked when I told them. People can’t believe it happens to young people, but it does.
As long as we keep getting the message out there, its’ working. It was great to do three schools in one go.
It’s hard to keep the fundraising going. People can get fed up – there’s only so many functions people can put on. But the support has been really great.
Speaking after the presentation on Friday, Graeme Harkness, Director, said:
We are delighted to be part of Jack’s Appeal. We hope the defibrillator never gets used but are glad that it will be here if it is needed.
Senior Ambassadors Charlotte Godding and Jamie Scriven from year 11, both attended the event on Friday.
If you would like to help fundraise for Jack’s Appeal, get involved on the new website, entitled ‘Remembering Jack’, on www.rememberingjack.co.uk.
You can also donate by going online and visiting welshhearts.org/jacksappeal. Alternatively, donate by sending a cheque payable to ‘Welsh Hearts’ to Temple Court, 13a Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA. Put reference ‘Jack Thomas defibs appeal’ on the back of the envelope.