A defibrillator could be the difference between life and death.
That's the message from former Arsenal midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who became one of the world's highest profile survivors of sudden cardiac arrest in March 2012, aged just 23. Muamba was playing for Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur when his heart stopped beating for 78 minutes.
He was very fortunate to be brought back to life by doctors. And now the 34-year-old has joined Sunderland -based heart charity Red Sky Foundation and Team Grassroots in highlighting the importance of life-saving defibrillators.
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Muamba said: "We all know the importance of having defibrillators and that could be the difference between life and death. We want to see more defibs available at grassroots football and we fully support the Grassroots defib programme by Team Grassroots and Red Sky Foundation."
His message hopes to encourage more football clubs to apply for a defibrillator, as well as give thanks to Red Sky Foundation and Team Grassroots for donating 100 defibrillators to grassroots football clubs around the UK.
Red Sky Foundation was awarded full charitable status in 2020 after being created by Sunderland couple Sergio and Emma Petrucci after their daughter Luna received life-saving open heart surgery at the Children's Heart Unit in Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.
The family have raised over £600,000 funding state of the art cardiac machinery and equipment as well as funding a public access defibrillator project installing over 100 units. It has also helped to educate thousands of people of all ages in the benefits of CPR and early defibrillation.
After a recent Red Sky Ball fundraising dinner held in the North East raised over £120,000, Sergio and Emma realised the urgent need for extra defibrillators at grassroots level football. They have now decided to give away 100 defibrillators to grassroots football clubs with unlimited access to a free defibrillator and a CPR training course to help save lives.
To assist with the charity's efforts it has now partnered with the UK's largest independent grassroots football organisation Team Grassroots to help with the roll out of the programme.
Sergio Petrucci, Co-founder of Red Sky Foundation, said: "Our daughter was given a second chance receiving specialist cardiac care when she needed it most but now she is 100% fit and healthy. It's time for us to focus on the other children who are born with, or who might develop a heart condition.
"Grassroots football is a perfect way for us to help kickstart the scheme. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone of any age and what we're doing at this level of football is to help protect children as well as adults in the event of a medical emergency by having a defibrillator as near as possible.
"Using early CPR and defibrillation on a person in sudden cardiac arrest can increase their chances of survival from 7% to over 75% so it's vital that every club possible in the UK has access to a defibrillator via the Grassroots Defibrillator Programme."
All defibrillators allocated to clubs via the Grassroots Defibrillator Programme will come with an additional free life-saving CPR and defibrillator session for as many people who wish to attend, courtesy of Red Sky Foundation. All grassroots clubs can apply online for a defibrillator at www.teamgrassroots.co.uk.
Paul Kirton, Founder of Team Grassroots, the organisation helping to deliver the campaign said: "It's great to see our Grassroots Defibrillator Programme getting such high profile attention – and we hope to keep the momentum going with ambitions to get as many of the units as possible out into lots of sporting locations.
"Red Sky Foundation's incredibly generous donation will help clubs play with confidence and give them the peace of mind knowing that life-saving equipment can be made available, should it be required.
"The NHS and UK Government's defibrillator fund has overlooked grassroots football clubs, which are not eligible for funding, so the demand for the equipment is huge. Previously we have received over 5,000 applications for 100 defibrillators, confirming the demand and lack of affordability amongst grassroots clubs who continue to struggle through to keep clubs afloat."
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