New defibrillator for Gosberton Clough and Risegate

A community has rallied together to fund a new defibrillator for a rural village.

Gosberton Clough and Risegate Community Primary School has been able to purchase a new defibrillator thanks to the generosity of Spalding Lions, Gosberton Parish Council along with villagers.

The new defibrillator, which has settings for children and adults, will be available for use in emergencies in the village using a code given by ambulance staff.

Senior teacher Carrie Hazlehurst said the previous defibrillator had come to the end of its operational life.]

She said: “We put out an appeal for funds and this was very kindly taken up by Spalding Lions who made a significant contribution.”

Lions Julie Grant and John Steel went along to the primary school last week to meet pupils and have a look at the new defibrillator.

The Lions, which raises much of its money through community sleigh runs, feel it is important to give much of its funding to local causes.

Julie said: “We were more than happy to help as we like to keep as money that we have raised locally during the year locally. There was no hesitation when we picked up the appeal.”

Villager Helen Thorley was also involved in the fundraising and knows the importance of a defibrillator after it was used to help a family member.

She said: “It is important for our family and all the other families in this area. We have quite a lot of elderly people around here. You just don’t know when you are going to need it.”