CHAIN raises £11k to fund seven defibrillators in Colchester

Chain (Colchester Helping Anyone in Need) was founded following the Boxing Day tsunami which devastated parts of Indonesia and elsewhere in 2004.

The fundraising group has since raised £144,000 for worthy causes in Colchester.

Its most recent fundraiser made £11,000 which was used to buy defibrillators, used for helping people whose hearts have stopped

One has just been installed at McDonald’s off the A12, next to Colchester’s Park and Ride.

Terrie Wright, from Chain, said: “We have been hosting annual balls at Le Talbooth, Dedham, and before the last ball we were speaking about a child who had a cardiac arrest on a football pitch.

“We wanted to get some more defibrillators in Colchester and the last ball raised £11,000 so we were able to buy seven of them.”

As well as McDonald’s, the other defibrillators are at Abberton Cricket Club, the Community Room in Apprentice Drive, the outhouse on East Hill, Age Concern on North Hill, and the Roman Circus.

A location for the seventh has not yet been confirmed.

Craig Newnes, franchisee at McDonald’s, said: “As a local company we are pleased to position the defibrillator at Colchester Stadium McDonald’s.

“This is the second one placed at a Colchester McDonald’s along side the one at Tollgate.’

Martin Goss, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, said: “It has been an absolute honour to play a small part in helping identify some of the sites in our area for the installation of new defibrillators.

“Craig was only too pleased to have one at the McDonald’s store and I want to thank him for funding the electrics and installation.

“Chain has done an amazing job fundraising for these important life saving assets within our community.”

The next ball, to be held at La Talbooth on September 13, will be supporting the Charlie Watkins Foundation and Grace Beverton from Marks Tey, who is 18-months-old and has an incredibly unusual illness.

Tina McKay is the parliamentary candidate for Labour.