Chesterfield life-saving charity awarded much-needed cash boost

Chesterfield Community First Responders (CCFR) has been awarded £500 from Spar’s Community Cashback Grant scheme.

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CCFR is made up of highly-trained local volunteers who respond to emergency calls and provide vital care to patients in the minutes before an ambulance arrives.

Community first responders, who work in conjunction with East Midlands Ambulance Service, can deliver life-saving intervention and defibrillation to patients in cardiac arrest.

Like many charities, CCFR has been unable to organise or attend any fundraising events because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mark Wilbourn, a volunteer with CCFR, said the charity was ‘over the moon’ with the donation and added that it would make a big difference to the group at a difficult time.

He said: “The £500 will be going towards life-saving equipment such as automatic external defibrillators and towards uniform to keep the community first responders warm in the winter months.”

A CCFR spokesperson added: “Fundraising is the main way we are able to buy the necessary equipment for us to use while attending the calls we receive.

“Unfortunately this is at a standstill in the current situation.

“One of the first responders and head of fundraising has now set up this JustGiving page to enable people to donate, if they wish too.”

For more information about CCFR and to find out how you can support the important group, visit www.chesterfieldcfr.co.uk

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