A Dalbeattie dad is getting ready to run more than 100 miles to help raise funds for a life-saving piece of equipment.
Ewan Hitchell is hoping to raise enough money for a defibrillator for Dalbeattie Star Youth Football Club where sons Cammy and Connor play.
The need for defibrillators at football grounds came to prominence at Euro 2020 when Denmark’s Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during his team’s game against Finland.
But it’s also a cause important to Ewan as his dad Cammy collapsed and died while playing for Threave Rovers in 1986.
Ewan said: “Watching the Euros brought it home. Folk have been trying to make people more aware of defibrillators as there have been quite a few incidents and I thought it would be a good idea.
“I’ve been to football festivals and I’ve not seen any defibrillators. It’s not just for the players, there’s also the spectators and coaches and loads of people go to these events.
“I thought if someone keeled over, there’s nothing to help them. Dalbeattie is half an hour from an ambulance or a hospital so you’re probably not going to survive without one.”
To raise the funds, Ewan is going to take part in the Ultra Scotland 100 Mile race in June which is close to 106 miles in distance.
He had hoped to raise £750 towards the £1,200 cost of a defibrillator but has already passed the £1,000 mark.
He said: “I’ve been pretty shocked at how much has been raised and how quickly it’s been done.
“If I raise enough for two defibrillators then great as you can never have enough.
“I do a wee bit of running anyway but I’ve never done anything of this magnitude.
“I’d threatened to do the 100 mile event on the Southern Upland Way before so I thought I’d raise a bit of money and it would keep me motivated to do the training as it takes a lot of effort and is very time consuming.”
David McBeth from Castle Douglas, whose brother Iain died in 2019 from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), has handed over a defibrillator to the club.
It will be installed in Colliston Park so that it can be accessed 24 hours a day by anyone using the park.
Ewan is continuing his efforts for a mobile kit so that coaches can take it to football festivals.
To sponsor him, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ewanhitchell
