Local support for foreign aid

THE local founder of a non-profit emergency service organisation is aiming to raise funds to provide community members of a Fijian village with defibrillator access and training.

Heroes Need Heroes founder and executive president, Michael Fawcett, said their latest initiative was inspired following the drowning death of a child outside Matacawalevu.

“We met the mother of the child during a visit to the Yasawa Islands a few weeks ago when we went to teach CPR. She wanted to raise funds for this,” he said.

“Currently, they don’t have access to emergency response equipment in the village where that child drowned so we want to purchase a couple AEDs to improve emergency accessibility for that area.

“That includes training students and teachers in CPR which they can hopefully take back to their villages as well.”

More than $1600 has been raised out of the fundraiser’s $5000 goal, accessible via a GoFundMe page.

Since its establishment, the organisation has donated more than $500,000 worth of emergency equipment and taught first aid and CPR training to more than 50,000 people in disadvantaged communities.

When not running the organisation, Mr Fawcett works as executive manager of emergency communications for ESTA’s Mount Helen site and has been a paramedic since 2006.

He said Heroes Need Heroes is “a proud achievement” for him.

“Every dollar goes to the frontline, and it’s good to know we’re making a small difference,” he said.

“We rely heavily on our home heroes. This is really about helping those first responders in the field.

“They need heroes too, and that’s us, many of whom are from Australia and donate towards the cause.”

The next Heroes Need Heroes initiative will be to raise $100,00 to rebuild a clinic in the Yasawa Islands.

To donate, visit bit.ly/3X5o1r2.