Ulverston charity shop cause is close to Bridget’s heart
Last updated at 14:43, Tuesday, 26 March 2013
A WOMAN whose heart stopped for 15 minutes has been moved by the ordeal to support a cardiac charity in her latest fundraising venture.
Serial charity fundraisers Bridget Brice and Avril Sweeting are preparing to open their latest pop-up charity shop in Ulverston at the weekend and are now appealing for donations to help get them up and running.
The pair have named four charities they will be supporting, with one of them – CardiacSmart – particularly close to Mrs Brice’s heart.
Mrs Brice was at Lancaster train station last year when she suffered a cardiac arrest but, thanks to the kind of training and defibrillators the charity provides, passers-by were able to save her.
She said: “I would not even be here if it wasn’t for that.”
Mrs Brice was preparing to board a train to London when her heart stopped – and it took her saviours 15 minutes to restore a normal rhythm.
Fortunately for her, another passenger had recently been trained in life support and the station was equipped with a defibrillator.
In all, seven people helped save Mrs Brice’s life and she hopes by supporting CardiacSmart she help provide the training and equipment to save more lives in future.
The Together We Can shop, at the former Stead and Simpson store in King Street, will also support Alice’s Escapes, a Christian Aid immunisation project in Sierra Leone and Sreepur Village, a scheme to support disadvantaged women in Bangladesh.
Mrs Sweeting said: “They are all such worthy causes and we really could do with some volunteers to help but what we are desperate for it donations.”
The mix of charities, she said, will mean an even split between supporting the local area and those in need abroad.
The pair, both from Ulverston, have done similar projects in the past – raising £25,000 in just three months following the 2004 tsunami.
Mrs Sweeting added: “We have only been able to raise money through the support of local people. They have been right behind us all the way and I hope the same thing will happen this time.”
Mrs Brice said they want to raise as much money for charity as possible and to do that they need volunteers and donations.
She added: “We are as economical as we possibly can be and every penny goes to what we are doing – I think people appreciate this.”
They are also in urgent need of eight foot spur section upright wall fittings for the shop to display their goods – and hope someone will be able to help out.
Anyone wanting to help can call Bridget Brice on 01229 584468 or Avril Sweeting on 01229 587074.
First published at 16:18, Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Bridget, and Avril care enough to make a difference. What a spririted attitude to life they both must have.
Have your say
Another charity shop, directly across from a charity shop and next door to a charity shop. Don't you think its time we had some retailers in the shops, I personaly don't want second hand goods.
Posted by Dave Webster on 27 March 2013 at 21:54