2018 sees local Sherburn in Elmet Rugby Club, Sherburn Bears ARLFC, reach their 50th year anniversary and what a better way to celebrate than completing the Danny Jones Defibrillator Campaign!
May 2015 saw the tragic death of Keighley Cougars rugby player, Danny Jones. Danny had a cardiac arrest which was caused by a previously undetected hereditary heart disease. As a result, Danny’s wife Lizzie launched a defibrillator campaign to encourage as many Rugby Clubs as possible to purchase a defibrillator via a grants programme.
After a generous £200 donation from a local resident, a £500 grant from The Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund and a £350 donation from the Sherburn in Elmet Lions, the club’s target to purchase a defibrillator has been met.
A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is having a cardiac arrest. Having a defibrillator that is accessible to the Rugby Club is a fantastic start to the new year and could potentially be the difference between life and death should they ever need to use it.