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.<\/p>\n
Heroes Need Heroes founder and executive president, Michael Fawcett, said their latest initiative was inspired following the drowning death of a child outside Matacawalevu.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, they don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat includes training students and teachers in CPR which they can hopefully take back to their villages as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than $1600 has been raised out of the fundraiser\u2019s $5000 goal, accessible via a GoFundMe page.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
When not running the organisation, Mr Fawcett works as executive manager of emergency communications for ESTA\u2019s Mount Helen site and has been a paramedic since 2006.<\/p>\n
He said Heroes Need Heroes is \u201ca proud achievement\u201d for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery dollar goes to the frontline, and it\u2019s good to know we\u2019re making a small difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe rely heavily on our home heroes. This is really about helping those first responders in the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need heroes too, and that\u2019s us, many of whom are from Australia and donate towards the cause.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next Heroes Need Heroes initiative will be to raise $100,00 to rebuild a clinic in the Yasawa Islands.<\/p>\n
To donate, visit bit.ly\/3X5o1r2.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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. \u201cWe met the mother […]<\/p>\n