Residents in Uppermill raise money for lifesaving defibrillator

Photo: Google Maps

Ebenezer Congregational Church in Uppermill

Generous villagers have contributed to a new lifesaving defibrillator after a church minister saved her husband’s life when he had a cardiac arrest.
 
Locals have  helped raise £2,000 after Audrey Lee, minister at Ebenezer Congregational Church, Uppermill, was unable to access a nearby defibrillator.

She performed CPR for 12-and-a-half minutes on Graham before an ambulance arrived.

After seven days in intensive care he made a full recovery and the couple launched a fund which, backed by locals, which will see the defibrillator installed on the outside of the church, where it will be accessible 24/7.

Money was raised by the church’s charity giving scheme, a Film and Food night, a concert by Entertaining Friends, and donations from local councillors, individuals and businesses.

The couple received help from Catherine Johnstone, of Saddleworth Physiotherapy Clinic on Uppermill High Street, who secured match funding of £600 from British Heart Foundation towards the cost of the defibrillator.

The church also got a CPR and defibrillator training kit and Catherine, a iNorth West Ambulance Service volunteer, will be able to conduct  sessions on using the defribullator. 

And later in the year, Audrey’s will receive a CPR Hero award from the British Heart Foundation at a ceremony in London.

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