VILLAGERS DIG DEEP FOR COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDER GROUP

Mayfield and Ellastone Community First Responders have been overwhelmed by their recent village appeal organised to raise money for the group.

With well over an 80% response rate the villagers of Mayfield, Ellastone, Wootton and Stanton have generously donated over £5300.

‘We could not believe the generosity as we started opening the envelopes,’ said Nicola O’Halleran the group’s coordinator.  ‘It took 5 of us a whole evening just to count the money.  And we know that there are more donations on their way.’

Mayfield and Ellastone CFRs are volunteers that respond on behalf of West Midlands Ambulance Service in remote rural areas, prior to the arrival of an ambulance response. The group aim to provide 24 hour ‘999’ cover for medical emergencies in and around Mayfield and their surrounding villages.  Last year they attended 210 calls.

‘We had people coming round with their donations even while our responders were attending patients!  We were very moved by some of the notes that were popped in with the money. We were almost in tears,’ added Nicola.

‘Thank you so much for your support in the past.  You have been out to us before and we really appreciated the speedy response and it was very reassuring to see you walk through the door,’ one villager had written.  And from another, ‘You came out to me one Christmas.  If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here today.’

The Group runs two vehicles and both will need replacing over the next year or so.  Although West Midlands Ambulance Service provides the training and consumables the group has to raise money for its vehicles and ongoing running costs.

At the same time the group has launched its new website.  The site explains its work, provides links to other health bodies and gives useful advice on what to do in an emergency.  It also includes the latest edition of ‘The Thumper’ the group’s own newsletter. ‘The Thumper’ is named after the automatic chest compressor used for cardiac arrests!

If any members of the community have missed the responders collection call and still wish to donate, please contact Nicola O’Halleran direct.

Go to www.mayfieldellastonecfr.co.uk.

For further information or how to donate, become a First Responder or a Friend of Responder and assist with fund raising, please contact Nicola on 07968 599226.

ENDS

For further information contact Nicola O’Halleran on 07968 599226

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