Football fever raises more than £1,400 for defibrillator

Pupils at a Suffolk primary school have got into Euro 2020 football fever to help raise money for a community defibrillator.

Wells Hall Primary Academy, in Great Cornard, went sports crazy after pupils were invited to wear their favourite shirt in exchange for a donation.

Coming just 24 hours before their 4-0 quarter-final win over Ukraine, England shirts were hugely popular alongside some other countries’ colours and club shirts and other sports kits.

Friday’s fun event raised more than £1,400 towards a defibrillator which would be sited in the school but also be available for local community use.

PE Specialist, Kieran Lawler, said a need for a defibrillator became particularly important after Denmark star Christian Eriksen collapsed during a game in the Euro 2020 group stages.

He said: “It is definitely something that is close to all our hearts. As soon as that happened in the Denmark match, pupils were coming into school talking about. We thought a defibrillator for both the school and the local community would be really important and we would like to thank everyone who has donated so generously.”

Kieran said he was confident that the school would raise enough to purchase a defibrillator – with Sudbury company Caribbean Blinds also pledging to support the fundraising campaign.