Leicester City’s first-team players have come together to fund life-saving equipment for a cause close to their hearts.
The Premier League stars have donated vital funds to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which will be strategically placed across the community to save lives in critical moments of need.
Picture credit: Heartwize
This initiative supports Heartwize, a life-saving charity founded by two pioneering cardiologists from the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust.
Heartwize, which is closely associated with the Foxes’ Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, was established with one simple but ambitious goal: to reduce the staggering number of deaths from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Founded in 2014 by Professor William Toff and Dr. Doug Skehan, the charity aims to ensure that every school leaver in Leicestershire and Rutland is equipped with the life-saving skill of CPR, and that every secondary school in the region is equipped with a defibrillator.
A decade later, Heartwize’s mission has been nothing short of transformative. The charity’s army of volunteers has trained over 60,000 students in CPR, ensuring that every secondary school in Leicestershire and Rutland is now equipped with both a defibrillator and a training defibrillator. The life-saving training has expanded beyond schools, reaching local businesses and the wider community as well.
The Heartwize team recently took their vital mission to Leicester City’s first-team and academy players, offering them CPR and defibrillator training. Inspired by the knowledge that quick action in a cardiac emergency can mean the difference between life and death, the players made a collective decision to fund new defibrillators, extending the reach of Heartwize’s life-saving work.
Ricardo Pereira, Leicester’s Portuguese international full-back, expressed the team’s commitment: “We’ve all been deeply moved by what we’ve learned through Heartwize, understanding the critical importance of CPR and fast access to defibrillators. It’s something that can save a life. As footballers, we’re fortunate to have immediate access to medical staff and equipment in emergencies, but the reality is that in our communities, many people don’t have that same advantage. With more training and defibrillators, we hope to give more people a fighting chance when every second counts.”
Professor Toff shared his gratitude: “We are overwhelmed by Leicester City’s players and their generous donation. In a cardiac arrest, time is everything, and these defibrillators will directly save lives across Leicestershire. The players’ support, alongside the VS Foundation, ensures that our mission to educate on CPR and provide life-saving equipment continues to grow and reach those who need it most.”
The club’s support for Heartwize reached new heights during Leicester’s home game against Brentford on February 21. Players wore promotional T-shirts in their warm-up, and supporters had the opportunity to donate, engage with Heartwize volunteers, and learn firsthand how CPR training can be the difference between life and death.
You can still contribute to this life-saving cause by texting CPR, followed by the amount you wish to donate, to 70460. For example, to donate £5, text CPR 5 to 70460.
