A new heart defibrillator means lives could be saved thanks to the charity work of a dinner lady.
Sheila Clarke, who works at St Mary Magdelen School, Mortlake, raised £3,600 for the machine, which is now in place at the Sheen Lane Health Centre.
Mrs Clarke, with the support of a friend’s son and pupil at the school, Harry Hutcheon, raised money for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
Events included a karaoke competition, table top sales, sponsored walks and the collection of 1p and 2p coins.
Speaking as she handed over the defibrillator to the centre, the 59-year-old said: “I would like to thank the PTA for helping me to fund raise for a defibrillator. I lost two nieces to cardiomyopathy, this is why I am so passionate about making people aware of our work and trying to get heart screening for all of our children so they do not have to die at a young age. If I can raise money for just one machine I feel I have done my best.”
Mrs Clarke, who lives in Dover House Road, Putney, started raising money in 1995 and set her heart on providing the centre at which she is a patient, with the defibrillator four and a half years ago.
“Hopefully it will help to save lives if someone should have a heart attack,” she said. Speaking on behalf of the practice, Dr Tina Grayson said: “Should anybody require resuscitation within the practice premises or, because it is so movable, in the near-by area we have the equipment. We are very grateful to Mrs Clarke. We are all down for a training session in a couple of weeks time to familiarise ourselves with the machine and all members of staff will be trained to use it.”
