Groups pay for life saving kit to be installed

The public access defibrillator will be located outside the sports club building in Russell Way and will be the first device in the town that will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It will be stored in a locked cabinet with the key code given by the Ambulance Service when a 999 call is made.

Defibrillators, also known as a defibs or AED, can mean the difference between life and death if anyone has a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest . The device delivers an electrical current through the chest which aims to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm allowing it to pump again.

A spokesperson for Heartbeat said: “It will be available to all the sports sections at BSC, all the party goers at events, our group classes and events and also the general public in Brighouse.

“We raised funds from donations from Bernie Holdsworth’s family made at her funeral service in March of this year, Brighouse 41 Club and group member and BSC trustee, John Dickenson. We have also raised funding from a sponsored walk. BSC will also contribute to the costs and will train up to 24 coaches and staff to use the defibrillator.

“Thanks to Yorkshire Ambulance Service the costs are reduced from £2,262 to £1,524 for the equipment plus the cost of installation, training and signage.”

The next fundraising event is the annual Christmas fair and grotto on Saturday, November 21 from noon to 3.30pm at Brighouse Sports Club. There will be craft, gift and cake stalls, games, mystery parcels and household items. There are seasonal refreshments. Admission is 50p and includes a free entry into a grand raffle with over £300 of prizes including a luxury Christmas Hamper.

Father Christmas will be in his grotto and admission is £3 per child with up to two adults. Every child receives a present of their choice.