Press release published by Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC on 18/10/2021 @ https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Newsroom/PressReleases/2021/October/FootballClubsLifesavingDonationToCommunity.aspx
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The Council wishes to thank Pontypridd Football Club for successfully fundraising and purchasing a new lifesaving defibrillator for the benefit of the whole community. The donation was made possible after a prize draw was organised, with the top prize being Welsh international jersey, signed by the player that once wore it.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services met Nigel Wheeler, Chair of Pontypridd FC, to thank him for the club’s fantastic fundraising efforts, which has secured the new wall-mounted defibrillator for the residents of the community of Pontypridd, as well as visitors to the area.
Free defibrillator and CPR training courses are regularly organised by the Council at venues across the County Borough. Swift actions could help save a life, especially in sport, as was highlighted at the Euro 2020 game played in June this year.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services, said: “A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time, and when it does, every second counts.
“Defibrillators are proven to save lives and they are an invaluable addition to any first aid knowledge. Defibrillators are now located across Rhondda Cynon Taf and can be operated by anyone, with the defibrillators providing clear instructions to those who need to use them in an emergency.
“The Council wishes to thank everyone associated with Pontypridd FC for their generous fundraising and their donation of a defibrillator. Not only is such lifesaving equipment important and of great benefit to the club itself, but also for the many other clubs, groups, organisations and individuals within the local community that make use of this fantastic sports and leisure facility at the Maritime Football Ground.
Nigel Wheeler, Chair of Pontypridd Football Club, said: “As a football community, we all watched with great concern the incident at the Euro 2020 tournament, during which a player suffered a heart attack while playing the game he loved so much.
“Pontypridd FC had been donated a signed Wales international jersey from Aaron Ramsey and the club decided to raise vital funds to purchase a defibrillator by organising a prize draw, with the winner claiming the shirt.
“Our prize draw was a massive success, well supported by all our players, committees, families and our supporters, and we were able to purchase the defibrillator out of the monies raised.
“The club would like to thank everyone for supporting our fundraising venture enabling us to make such a donation possible. We also wish to thank our supporters for their constant loyalty and commitment.
Aaron Ramsey, played for Cardiff City FC as a schoolboy, becoming the club’s youngest ever first team player and going on to play in the 2008 FA Cup Final. He moved to Arsenal in 2008, the year he made his full Wales international debut.
Ramsey scored the winning goal for Arsenal in the 2014 FA Cup Final against Hull City, played in the 2015 FA Cup Final, which Arsenal won and scored the FA Cup winning goal in 2017. He joined Juventus in 2019 and was also part of the successful Wales squad in their 2016 Euro campaign, helping the side to the semi-final stages. He was also part of the Wales 2020 Euro squad and represented Team GB at the 2012 Olympic Games.
The new defibrillator unit has been presented to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and is located on the wall at the Maritime Football Ground, Pontypridd.
Image: RCT
