A CAMPAIGN to fund a lifesaving public access defibrillator at Hale Village Hall will be launched on Saturday, April 2,

All are welcome to visit the village hall in Wings Road between 2pm and 4pm where there will be demonstrations on how to ‘have a go’ to save someone’s life if their heart stops.

The free event has been organised by the Hale Village Hall committee with support from Heartstart Farnham Lions.

Professor Tom Quinn, the Lions’ clinical director and a Hale resident, said: “Heartstart Farnham Lions has trained over 600 people in CPR locally but that’s just one way to increase a person’s chances of survival if their heart stops.

“Calling 999, starting CPR straight away and defibrillation as soon as possible are all things that anyone can do while the cavalry are coming and can double a friend or loved one’s chances of survival.

“In Farnham we have started to put defibrillators in public places and we are trying to raise awareness that anybody can use these in the same ways they use fire extinguishers when there’s a fire.”

Saturday’s event will be followed by a quiz night seven days later with supper, prizes and a raffle between 7pm and 10pm. The quiz costs £10 per person with participants invited to make up a team of six or join in with others on the night.

All of the public access defibrillators in Farnham are listed online at  www.farnham.gov.uk/farnham-life/community-news-events/defibrillators-in-and-around-farnham.

Donations towards the Hale defib campaign can be made via cheques made payable to Hale Village Hall and posted to Hale Village Hall in 1 Wings Rd, Farnham, GU9 0HN.