It takes a certain type of person to be a First Responder, someone with dedication, determination and a kindness towards their fellow man. The Henfield First Responders (HART, Henfield Area Response Team) are a very lovely bunch of volunteers who spend a lot of their spare time ‘on call’ and ready to respond as quickly as possible, before the ambulance arrives on the scene of a local emergency.
They don’t receive any public funding, (aside from some SECAmb training) so the cost of providing defibrillators and other emergency equipment falls at the feet of local fundraisers and supporters. The fundraising is ongoing, defibs need replacing every few years and there is a drive by the group to populate the area with as many PADs (Public Access Defibrillators) as possible, especially in more rural parts. They would love to offer a 24/7 cover to the area and need more volunteers to help reach this goal. They work closely with PART (Partridge Green Response Team) and swap ‘patches’ when the areas are not covered, so if you live in Henfield you could find Heather Kingdon (one of the PART team walking the challenge) or one of her colleagues attending an emergency.
The team are always up for a challenge, so when one of the responders (mentioning no names, Sandra Parsons…) suggested climbing Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis mountains in the space of 24 hours to raise money and awareness for HART, several enthusiastic members of the group raised their hands in support. As with many good plans, this one was hatched in the pub. It immediately gained the support of two local sponsors, Sean Preston from South Down Truck and Crane and Gyles Culver, landlord of the White Hart. Griffith Smith Farrington Webb, a firm of local solicitors where Anne Dewdney works, stepped up with even more sponsorship, as they always do where HART are concerned.
So now there are eight intrepid climbers, under the guidance of local businessman and all-round fitness guru Mark Skilton. (Incidentally, Mark got the fundraising ‘ball rolling’ by donating £200 from his local business DSA products, but don’t tell him we told you). The climbers; Claire Greenfield, Mark Skilton, Kas Fletcher, Heather Kingdon, Sandra Parsons, Martin Tooth, Josh Westlake and Anne Dewdney have been training hard in all weathers, fuelled by Sandra’s singing and pockets full of energy giving ‘Percy Pigs’. Their stomping ground has been the steep bits of the South Downs, as well as one very grueling trip to Snowdonia to really test their climbing skills.
Martin Tooth said; “We’ve been asked lots of times why we’re doing this, and my answer would be to primarily raise awareness of what HART does. Some people still don’t know about us, or how crucial the first 4 minutes are in saving a person’s life after a heart attack. Local knowledge of defibrillator locations and the basics in resuscitation really will save lives. Of course, we also need to fill some tins to keep us on the road so all kind donations will be gratefully received.”
Dave Fletcher, paramedic and founder member of HART is part of the support team, along with John Rodrigues. Their role is to drive the climbers between the mountains, provide food and generally boost morale. “At the moment HART are taking around 20 call-outs a month. These can range from giving reassurance to an elderly person who has fallen to a life-saving resuscitation. We save the ambulance team critical time and can help to stabilize and reassure the patient as well as get vital information. None of this would be possible without the overwhelming support of local people and the businesses that sponsor us. We are continually grateful.”
I spoke with the sponsors of the event, local businesses who are helping to ‘make it happen’. Sean Preston and his mum Margaret are Henfielders who are very supportive of local charities including the Youth Club and Henfield Football Club. This year South Downs Truck & Crane (who employ around 20 local people) have chosen HART as the recipients of their donations. “HART have responded to us at work in the past so we know exactly what a difference they make,” said Sean. “This is something we can do to help them and show our gratitude.”
Gyles Culver from the White Hart is a well-known supporter of HART; the fortnightly fundraising quizzes for the charity are incredibly popular and well supported. He’s providing the mini-bus that will ferry the climbers from mountain to mountain. “HART are a firm favourite with us at The White Hart. We’re pleased to continue our support for this local charity. The responders are all such lovely people and it’s a reassurance for us all that they are there if we need them.”
Nadia Cowdrey from Griffith Smith Farrington Webb added; “We are delighted to be one of the sponsors of this event. All the donations will go directly to the voluntary responder units HART and PART for lifesaving defibrillator kits. Anne Dewdney, our Henfield Office Administrator is a keen member of HART and we wish the team every success in what will be a tough but very worthwhile challenge.”
The HART team has a real challenge on their hands on 22nd June, but they will work as a team to encourage each other to reach the top of the mountains. It will be grueling but not without laughter and a few tales to tell in the pub afterwards. Please support them and show them how much Henfield values their kindness and dedication.