Scotmid is delighted to announce its support of the Edinburgh Evening News Shockingly Easy campaign to help sports clubs in the Lothians with a life-saving defibrillator.
Scotmid has pledged to £250 towards the cost of a defibrillator to 11 sports clubs close to its ‘Heart Safe’ shops in the region that have their own in-store devices.
Kirkliston and South Queensferry (KSQFC) has become the first club to benefit, kick-starting a funding drive by the club to secure a defibrillator for its 250 youth footballers. KSQFC secretary Mark Richardson said that, once purchased, the life-saving device would travel with the team to its games, and will be made available to the community in a pavilion at Allison Park in Kirkliston where it will be stored.
Mark Richardson said: “This is a very, very generous donation from Scotmid to the club towards buying a defibrillator. It’s a very good cause, and while we hope it will never be used, it will be there just in case there is an incident. “Jamie’s tragic death highlighted to all sports clubs, including ourselves, that this piece of equipment is vital and could potentially save someone’s life. We have wanted to get a defibrillator for some time, but Scotmid coming along and helping to get us started with our fundraising is fantastic.”
Malcolm Brown, Head of Corporate Communications for Scotmid Co-operative, said: “It is absolutely superb that the Edinburgh Evening News has launched the Shockingly Easy campaign. As soon as we heard about the campaign, we knew we wanted to get involved.
“Over the past three years, Scotmid has invested a great deal in supporting our most vulnerable communities by installing defibrillators in many of our stores. Across Edinburgh and the Lothians, we have 11 ‘Heart Safe’ stores with these life-saving machines, which are a vital resource for the local community to access in a cardiac emergency.
“That’s why we are thrilled to be supporting the Shockingly Easy campaign. We have pledged to donate kickstarter funds of £250 to 11 sporting clubs that are local to our Heart Safe stores, to help towards the cost of a defibrillator. We are delighted to be making this first donation to Kirkliston and South Queensferry Football Club to get the ball rolling.”
The 11 ‘Heart Safe’ Scotmid stores with defibrillators in Edinburgh and the Lothians are: Leith Walk, Easter Road, Nicolson Street, Stockbridge, Gorgie, Portobello, Crewe Road, Kirkliston, Prestonpans, Mayfield and Armadale.
(Image courtesy of Edinburgh Evening News)