A north-east community has rallied together to replace two public access defibrillators which were stolen last month.
The chairperson of the Newtonhill Village Association, Alanna Cooper, created a special crowdfunding page which has amassed over £2,000 in just two weeks.
She said: “Despite our transport links, it can take 20 minutes for a first responder to reach us. Defibrillators are vital to our community and the association is therefore asking for your help to replace them as quickly as possible.”
With multiple cash donations handed into the community’s shops, the total amount raised has already surpassed the £3,500 needed to replace the life-saving machines.
Lib Dem councillor for North Kincardine, Ian Mollison said: “It is quite remarkable. I always expect Newtonhill to put its shoulder to the wheel when there is a community project and over the years it has done really well on various things.
“So I wasn’t particularly surprised by seeing the money being raised by the community.
“But what I am surprised by is how quickly they have responded, and people have been very generous. It’s been amazing, both through individual donations left at local shops and the Just Giving site.
“It is quite phenomenal and a really heart-warming response. Newtonhill people sometimes take my breath away.
“The defibrillators are going to cost £1,100 each. Some of the money will be spent on security measures to prevent people stealing the new ones.
“If there is extra provision, more may be spent on extra defibrillators in the area. There is also a question of maintenance of the defibrillators, so some money could be set aside for that.”
Two devices were stolen from outside the Newtonhill Pharmacy on Old Mill Road and the walls of the village’s Tesco store sometime between September 26 and October 10.
The community received two spare defibrillators recently from the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team after they heard about the thefts.
These are due to be returned to the Loch Lomond-based group in March, so the NVA launched a fundraising campaign to secure machines of its own.
Newtonhill Village Association chairwoman Alanna Cooper said: “I can’t believe the support we have had. It’s great to see the community getting behind it and putting their hands in their pockets.”
Donations can be made at:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Newtonhill-Defibrillators
