Community members came together on Thursday as Neil Skym (Treherbert RFC Club Chairman), was handed the Defibrillator from David Healy (Welsh Hearts). Treherbert RFC Community Club managed to raise the £1000 needed to buy the defibrillator.
The money was raised through a large community effort including local raffles and donations, in particular donations from the local rotary club. The fundraising hasn’t stopped yet though as they work towards acquiring additional defibrillators in the local communities of Blaencwm and Blaenrhondda.
The fundraising for the defibrillator forms part of the RCT100, Dai Fib Appeal which aims to get one hundred devices and provide training in the communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Talking about the appeal, David Healy said: “There are not enough defibrillators in Wales to give victims the best chance of survival during those first few crucial minutes. With more defibrillators we can provide a vital link in the chain of survival so that more lives can be saved.”
The community members who attended the presentation were given free training on how to use the defibrillator, should it ever need to be put in practice. Healy emphasised: “Any member of the community will be able to use the defibrillator, as the device gives detailed step by step instructions the moment it is switched on.”
Following the presentation and training, Chairman Neil Skym said: “We are over the moon to have raised the funds to buy the defibrillator for the community. We are now aiming to raise further funds so that we can buy two additional defibrillators for the Blaencwm and Blaenrhondda communities as they are the furthest to reach.”
The defibrillator is currently being stored inside the club, but will be soon placed outside of the club to ensure that the community has access to the device at all hours of the day.
