This year community fundraiser Arthur will be celebrating five years raising lifesaving funds for BHF and being part of the Leeds Fundraising Group. The group raise money through attending local events with their fantastic crockery shy!
“I’m proud to volunteer for British Heart Foundation through the Leeds Fundraising Group. Our crockery shy is always so well received at events, and we have a queue most of the day! It’s a great way to raise funds and awareness of BHF in the local community.”
Arthur has been supporting BHF since he had a cardiac arrest at his local park run eight years ago in September, where he then needed a triple heart bypass.
Thankfully the Park Run club had a portable defibrillator on hand. Arthur explains, “I volunteer because I had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and thanks to the quick actions of those nearby, I’m here to tell that tale. I’m incredibly grateful to the people who knew CPR and used the defib, and to BHF for all its investment into research. Without BHF, this could be a very different story.”
In the UK there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests a year where emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate the victim. However, the survival rate is low – less than 1 in 10 people in the UK survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Becky Beevers, Fundraising Manager for West Yorkshire, says “We’re so grateful to have Arthur’s support through the Leeds Fundraising Group and their crockery shy. They’ve raised over £12,000 with it! I was lucky enough to work with Arthur for the whole day at the Pudsey Carnival in May where over £650 was raised. This is a unique fundraising activity which everyone enjoys and we’re so pleased to share it with wider volunteers.”
Thank you, Arthur for all the fun you bring to the local events with your shy!