Kettering Support 1st Responders

The Kettering & District Lions Club presented a cheque for £2,000 to the Cranford & Barton First Responders Group on Wednesday June 11th. at the Kettering Golf Club. They had previously donated £500 for them to buy equipment they needed to start treating people in the local area who were suffering with a medical emergency.

This extra money will be enough to buy a defibrillator costing £1,500, and two fully stocked equipment bags costing £500.

The Kettering Lions Club discussed the best way to use the money that had been given to the Club in memory of a Lion Neil Manns, and also Janet Atkins the widow of an ex Lion, both of whom died recently from heart related problems.

Kettering Lions immediately thought that the 1st. Responders, would be an ideal charity to benefit.

Members of both families attended to see the cheque presented, and to hear the leader of the Kettering group, Fiona Piechowski explain how the First Responders worked.

Malcolm Harris Kettering Lions Fund Raising Chairman said “we think the Responders group is the type of organisation that we want to support. They are all unpaid volunteers, providing a very valuable service to the local community, and in a recent three week period, answered over forty call-outs, which proves their value”.

They are going to wear a Lions badge on their uniforms to show that we are supporting them, and the Lions will assist them to raise more funds, and help them whenever we can. We were told that the Responders do not get any expenses, and have to buy their uniforms, and all the equipment they need.

They have to use their own cars to get to patients, and even have to pay for their own petrol. A Lion, who wishes to remain anonymous, felt that they deserved all the help and donated his personal cheque for £1000, in addition to the donation from the Lions

More details on first responders can be found at

www.northantset.co.uk/daily-features/How-you-could-help-save.3481249.jp

© 2008 Lions Clubs International