Simon Kirby, Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven was pleased to meet this morning with local residents, Ward Councillors Mary Mears and Joe Miller and representatives from the Police in support of the Ovingdean Defibrillator Campaign.

The initiative was started by local resident Jo Goddard when she learnt that the phone box outside Ovingdean Village stores was to be removed. Simon gave his support to the initiative from the start but it wasn’t possible for the phone box to be adopted by the Community Heartbeat Trust until a consultation process with BHCC finished later last year. The phone box has now been adopted by CHT and local people and community groups are joining together to help raise the £1,675 necessary to purchase the equipment.

Simon said, “I believe this is a valuable and important initiative and I am very happy to support it. The proposal will make available close-at-hand emergency equipment which may save vital seconds in helping someone in medical distress. We need to raise £1,675 to purchase the equipment. I would urge everyone to support this important initiative.” 

Councillor Mary Mears said, “I am pleased to support this important campaign. Having a defibrillator in our historic village would bring reassurance to many local residents.”

There will be a coffee morning and tabletop sale on 29th April at the Ovingdean Village Hall and there is a just giving page at
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/community-heartbeat-trust/ovingdeanvillagedefibrillator. People can also donate money at the Ovingdean Village Stores where there are charity buckets for the initiative.