Dave’s Story | AEDdonate

Legacy Sparks Life-Saving Action

Leek resident Dave’s dedication to saving lives began after the sudden and unexpected passing of his friend David, affectionately known as ‘Macca,’ who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on New Year’s Eve 2020. Determined to honour Macca’s memory with a positive legacy, Dave teamed up with Macca’s family to raise funds for an AED to be placed in the phone box near where Macca had collapsed.

Beyond All Expectations

Building on early fundraising efforts led by local councillor Ben Emery, Dave and the family partnered with AEDdonate to launch a memorial donations page. Their campaign quickly exceeded expectations, raising enough to install five AEDs across Leek town centre, far beyond the original goal. Understanding that quick access to an AED, ideally within 90 seconds, is crucial, Dave worked with AEDdonate to map lifesaving coverage across the town. He even added all AED locations to Google Maps, helping identify gaps and ensure devices were placed where they were needed most.

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Spreading Awareness

Dave also linked other fundraising efforts around Leek to AEDdonate, allowing more communities to benefit from their support. As a result, AEDs were installed at a golf club, a boxing academy, several pubs, and Leek Cricket Club. In just two years, the number of community-accessible defibrillators in Leek increased from eight to over 30. Recognising the importance of awareness and skills, Dave arranged training sessions for 50 staff from Leek town-centre shops and businesses, offering either a full-day First Aid at Work course or a shorter two-hour evening session.

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A Safer Town for Everyone

Thanks to Dave’s tireless efforts, town, parish, and district councils agreed on and implemented a funding package to maintain and manage the 130 plus AEDs registered with The Circuit across the region. Dave’s dedication has transformed Leek into a safer place, and AEDdonate hopes to find someone like Dave in every town and city, because every community deserves a champion like him. i can’t see it in here

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