Tag: Sussex Heart Charity

Rural defibrillators up and running.
We did it!

Following Foxy Ladies fundraising efforts at The First ever Cissbury Ring Marathon Relay 2021 we were delighted to raise enough money to buy two defibrillators through Sussex Heart Charity’s https://sussexheartcharity.org/ grant scheme. The grant, once approved, means your organisation contributes for the cost of the defibrillator and in return you receive a heated defib outer case, a Heartsine AED and AED familiarisation training for 10 people with Pulse South Coast https://pulsesouthcoast.co.uk/. We were really grateful to be able to apply and be approved for two defibs through this scheme.

The Cissbury Marathon Relay event

In Loving memory

The fundraising was done by the members of Foxy Ladies Running Club, both adult and youth squad. It was in memory of Nick Votta, life partner of one of our dear long-term members Sam Merrick. Nick’s life was sadly taken too soon when he suffered a cardiac arrest in June 2021. Nick was a valued and respected member of the Findon Valley Community who loved walking up Cissbury Ring all year round.

Nick Votta

It was important to both Sam and the ladies of the club to try to get a defib in this area not only for sentimental reasons but as it is so widely used by members of the public and the nearest one was located at Lime Tree Surgery. We wanted to ensure if required it was in an accessible spot used by hikers, dog walkers, runners and mountain bikers.

A lengthy process

In November we took delivery of the two defibrillators and work had already begun in earnest working with local authorities to secure and approve locations and work out logistics, protecting the defibs and their all important battery life.

Receiving the defibs

Many months of administrative work followed in order to get the defibs placed in these rural locations. Permissions were needed from Adur & Worthing Council for defib 1, now located in Storringtion Rise Car Park and from the National Trust for defib 2, located on the south side of Cissbury ring. We also worked hard to source electricity in these areas but to no avail and were then advised they could be kept in medical insulation bags which would protect the four year battery life. The sourcing of the bags to fit the cases required time and patience as did the alterations to the cases to remove electrics and obstructions that may impact the construction of the specialist bags.

Finally in February, the post went up followed by the defib case in March. Defib 1 is now live in Storrington rise car park and we pass our thanks to Council Ranger Graeme Brooker for making this happen. Two weeks later and Defib 2 has been installed and is live up at Cissbury, put in by National Trust Ranger for the area Graham Welfare. Again we are really grateful to him and the National Trust for giving their time to fix this up.

Council ranger Graeme installing defib 1 in Storrington Rise

His heart beats on

As you can imagine both occasions have been very moving and emotional for Sam and her family and the members of club who are delighted to see what their running and fundraising have achieved. As Sam placed the battery in the defib and the light started to flash she felt like it was Nick’s heart beat living on. A plaque in loving memory of Nick will be placed with defib 2 and Sam thinks he would feel very honoured and humbled to know that he has a special place up at Cissbury and his name rests with something so positive.
I am aware had we gone for the easier option of the defibs being placed somewhere accessible to electricity (outside of a building and wired into electrics) this would have been much more straightforward and they could have been up in a few days. I do hope this does not discourage anyone from installing a defib in future and hopefully now people will look to install them in rural areas ….as we now know this is possible!

CPR Training

During March approximately 60 club members received CPR and AED familiarisation over 5 separate evenings and from two different training providers. We now feel more informed and confident should we ever be the first on scene and need to perform CPR and use a defib. Our thanks go to Sally Holmes a community first responder with Secamb in Rustington https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/join-us/community-first-responders/ and Craig Sharples from Pulse South Coast for sharing their invaluable skills and knowledge.
We hope no one ever has to use them but at least there is a little peace of mind to know there are some in the area if we ever do.

Public Response

We have all ready received messages of thanks from local residents and members of the public, grateful that they now have these vital pieces of equipment in their local vicinity. Some have also told us they have now booked into defib training too which is just brilliant.

Specific Defib Locations

Defib 1 – Storrington Rise Car Park, Storrington Rise, Worthing, BN14 0HT . What 3 words location “similar.correctly.canyons” Directions on left hand side of car park entrance.

Defib 2 – Cissbury Ring, Agricultural land Mount Carvey, nr Cissbury Ring. What 3 words location “initiated.shuttled.steps” Directions near fingerpost in middle of grass area the grid reference for TQ138075.

Special Thanks

To Sam and her family for investing time, energy and emotion into this at such a difficult time in their lives.

To all the members of Foxy Ladies Running Club who gave so generously with their donations and time to the event, raising enough money to provide these life saving pieces of equipment.

To Terry and his team at Sussex Heart Charity, Dan and Graham at the National Trust and Graeme at the council.

Thank you to Sue and Ian Hart for the venue for the defib training.

Huge thanks to Sally Holmes and Craig Sharples for the CPR & AED familiarisation.

The biggest thanks go to Jenny Blower for stepping up right at the beginning to help, working hard with me to see this project right through to the end, you are an absolute star.
March 25, 2022
The First ever Cissbury Ring Marathon Relay 2021
Raising money for a life saving cause in memory of Nick Votta

Here at Foxy Ladies Running club we pride ourselves on being one of the most supportive clubs around, more like a big family, so when something tragic happens to one of our members we all pull together to help them in any way we can.

Why

In June, one of our long-term members Sam Merrick lost her life partner Nick Votta of 35 years, in an unexpected heart attack, despite every effort to resuscitate him. He was a loving father of two, to his boys Matthew and Robbie. A real community-based man involved with the local Scouts organisation and always willing to lend a hand. He loved walking up Cissbury ring with his family and more recently with their foster dogs and of course the Findon Scout Group.

We wanted to do something that celebrated his life and love for the countryside but that would also benefit the community. We set about organising the Cissbury Ring Marathon Relay in his memory. The aim being, to raise enough money for a defibrillator to be accessible in the local area for walkers, runners and cyclists.

How

The Foxy members were asked to take part in teams of eight and to pay an entrance fee per person to raise the necessary funds. We were overwhelmed with the response and received a whopping sign up of 19 teams. With permission given from the National Trust to run through the ring and along the inside, we mapped out a route that was 1.2 miles, which meant 22 laps in total, equating to 26.4 miles, just over a marathon distance for each team.

When

On a cold, windy but sunny November morning about 150 Foxy Ladies traipsed up the steep hill to the start line. Some in fancy dress or team colours and some with face paints but all with a great spirit. Picnic rugs were laid down and teams set about organising themselves and keeping warm. Flasks of hot drinks were produced, a cake table was set up and team attire was arranged.

What

The lap had one upward hill climb to start and then into the biting wind followed by a more sheltered and down hill return. Ladies ran in pairs from each team, not only for company but for safety although the route was well covered by all our lovely volunteer marshalls. The laps were marked up on the scoreboard and it was exciting to see them being crossed off every time the ladies came in.

A few hours later all had completed their team marathons, even our youth girls aged 14 -18 took part and often helped other teams out by running laps for them. It was an emotional day for all that took part. Sam and her team “Vottas Vixens” all ran the last lap together in their specially designed red t-shirts. We are grateful to our club members and to all their partners for marshalling and volunteering on the day. All members were rewarded with a bespoke medal designed especially for the event and a unique one for Sam.

Members of the public also donated money on the day and purchased some of the lovely homemade cakes during the event. We were lucky enough to have another Foxy husband, Gareth Blower run the London Marathon back in October and the sponsorship he raised of £625 has gone directly to this cause.

The best news is that we have raised enough money to provide two rural defibrillators. This is in conjunction with The Sussex Heart Charity https://sussexheartcharity.org/ who provide a grant system to help with purchase, organisation and training of the defibs. We have now been given permission to place one up near Cissbury Ring and the other at Storrington Rise car park in their special cases and within a thermal bag to protect the defibs from the elements.

We hope these devices may never be needed but if they help to save just one life, then it has been very worthwhile.
December 2, 2021