Melton Times letter: Melton Community First Responders thank generous residents and businesses for donations

The Melton Community First Responders started a fundraising project last year to replace our 13 rather aged defibrillators.
Grantham Journal letter.Grantham Journal letter.
Grantham Journal letter.

The manufacturers have stopped production and only guarantee production of batteries and pads until the year 2020. That’s not far away. We put a timescale on our replacement programme of three years, taking us to the end of 2017, to replace them all. We thought this was optimistic.

In October last year we sent a letter into the Melton Times to apply to Ragdale Hall for funding from Make It Happen. The Melton Times ran an article on our group and the project, to try to replace our old defibrillators. This article brought us donations from some very generous residents in Melton, and some organisations that we would never have thought of approaching.

Now most of our responders are carrying a new defibrillator, the Physio Control Lifepak 1000, thanks to these wonderful people.

I do not feel I can put into print the names of the individuals who sent us some wonderful donations but I wrote to all of you and you know who you are. Thank you from us all.

The companies and organisations that responded to our project were Mars in the Community, Ragdale Hall ‘Make It Happen’, The Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons, Trumpton charity, The Red Arrows Charitable Trust, St Mary’s Church and Shane Mousley & Son Independent Funeral Directors. We still have other organisations looking into helping us complete the project. They are The Melton Lions, who have supported us in the past with equipment, and The Melton Aurora Rotary Club.

Our new project is to replace all the dilapidated kit bags we carry. These cost about £200 each and again we have 13 to replace.

We would also like to buy a hi-vis vest jacket with pocket for each responder and a sweatshirt. We have 17 fully trained responders and four new recruits.

There will always be some ongoing costs to our group as new equipment is needs when basic level two responders upskill to intermediate level three. The replacement of worn equipment is always on the agenda.

If you would like any information about the Melton Community First Responders please call (01664) 853384.

Ina Scott

Co-ordinator, Melton Community First Responders