2 new defibs in Leicester thanks to the 7events team

After two years of fundraising events, on the 24th September 2018, the 7events team were really pleased to finally achieve one of its key goals, to install a defibrillator in St. Peter’s Centre, Oadby. This is the first one to be installed, with the second being purchased for Rushey Mead Recreation Centre in 2019.

Alan Harrison White and Charles Poole from the local heart charity The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) were both present to help with the official launch of the public accessible defibrillator which will be available 27/7 in case of a cardiac emergency. Alan, the Trust’s lead trainer also delivered a vital life-saving , CPR and defibrillator, training session to members of local businesses close by.

With JHMT’s annual SADS Awareness Week kicking off from the 1 October, 7events are incredibly pleased they could support such a great cause and are working closely with JHMT to continue to create a heart safe community for all.

SADS Awareness Week (1-5 Oct) is an annual campaign where the JHMT undertakes awareness-raising work, provides training for medics, holds events and community activities across the city and county to highlight the shocking statistic that every week in the UK,12 x young people, aged 12-35, die due to undiagnosed heart conditions like SADS – sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

SADS stands for sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, a collective term for a group of deadly genetic heart conditions which cause a disturbance with the heart rhythm and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Jit Chauhan from Leicester set up 7events and has been working tirelessly in his spare time to raise the profile of 7events and all of the associated events.

7events started in 2016 with Jit and his friends who pulled together to complete a series of challenges and events to raise awareness and lots of money for Leicester based charities which include JHMT, LOROS, Teenage Cancer Trust and the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Jit says “I wanted to do give something back to the Leicester community and knew I wasn’t the only one. So, I decided to start 7events to tie the charity events that my friends were already doing together and focus on raising funds for charities in Leicester. It’s been a great adventure and one of the events (Summer Raas Garba) turning into an annual event supported by the Arts Council I didn’t imagine it would turn into this and impact so many people!”

The team have run or taken part in the following events over last few years:

  • Health & Wellbeing Festival
  • Tough Mudder by DMAF – Deacons Martial Arts and Fitness (Oadby) & Mudders in Arms
  • Cannock Chase 10k – Born to Run team
  • Summer Raas Garba
  • Prudential Ride 100 Surrey
  • Tigers Away in a day at Parklands Leisure Centre
  • London Marathon run by Russel Gamadia
  • Snowdon Trek
  • Soul Survivor – 70s and 80s night on Boxing Day

They’ve raised over £25,000 since 2016 and have supported other charities including CLASH and Coping with Cancer and most recently have purchased a defibrillator through JHMT for the St Peter’s Centre in Oadby.

Jit said ‘We couldn’t have purchased this defibrillator without the Oadby Residents Forum, Police Mutual, Parklands Leisure Centre (Everyone Active), JiFit, Oadby Residents Forum, DMAF and the 7events team, so a big thank you to everyone who contributed their time and effort.’

Steve Humphries, chair of the JHMT said “Congratulations to Jit and everyone at 7 events on their magnificent achievement to help create a heart safe community, resulting in the first of two public access defibrillator being installed in Oadby, on the eve of SADS Week 2018.

“The message of SADS Week is that sudden heart deaths aren’t inevitable, they’re preventable. If more people are aware of the symptoms, are CPR trained and more defibrillators are made available in public places, we can have a positive impact on that shocking statistic.”

Jit and the team are looking forward to installing the second defib and continuing to raise more money to help the Leicester community. He said “7events is a great initiative that has bought so many people together and in 2019 we’re transforming 7events from an initiative to a full charity so we can carry on supporting the community and charities in Leicester for years to come! Watch this space!”