STAFF at a Redditch school are hoping to use the festive spirit to give the gift of life this Christmas.
St Stephen’s First School held its Christmas bazaar last Thursday (December 4) to raise money to buy a life-saving defibrillator, a machine which restarts the heart in the event of a cardiac arrest.
Attractions included a Winter Wonderland photo booth supplied by VIP functions and flowers, craft stalls, festive tombola and a grand raffle featuring prizes from companies including Hatton Country World and Botany Bay Nursery. Entertainment was also provided by the Mabey Avenue school’s choir.
Robert Underwood, who founded the Craig and Charlotte Saving Hearts Foundation to raise money to install defibrillators in schools and public places across Redditch, was also there to talk to parents and give a demonstration of how the machines work.
The event was organised by Tudor Grange Academy student Chloe Ralph, who is currently on a work placement at the school as part of her A-Level studies, and raised £760 while a hamper of food was also donated to Redditch Food Bank.
The 16-year-old said: “I’ve read about what Robert and Maggie do and it’s a really great thing. Other first schools have raised money to have a defibrillator so I thought St Stephen’s should have one too.”
