David with the Mayor of Gravesham, Councillor Lyn Miller, at Mid Kent Golf Club
A charity life-saver is asking people in Kent for help in raising funds for life-saving defibrillators.
Last week, David Sullivan, 58, stopped off at various locations in Kent, including Mid Kent Golf Club, where he met the Mayor of Gravesham, Councillor Lyn Miller, and Dover Castle, to train local people how to perform life-saving CPR, before continuing his mammoth charity challenge, The World’s Longest Golf Hole.
The journey began at John O’Groats on 11th June and is set to be completed around 22nd August at Land’s End.
David, a former armed forces skiing and mountain craft trainer from Surrey, is walking the 1,000 miles and making an estimated 250,000 golf shots, to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and to raise awareness of the importance of learning how to perform CPR.
David’s passion for teaching people CPR came about when he was faced with a life-or-death situation when a young man experienced a cardiac arrest in front of him.
David luckily knew what to do. He gave CPR for 17 minutes until the man could be treated with a defibrillator.
“It was thanks to my training, and a defibrillator being nearby, that I was able to help save the man, who luckily made a full recovery,” says David. “When something like that happens right in front of you, it makes you realise how precious life is and how important it is to know what to do in that kind of emergency. It was an experience which profoundly affected me, and now it’s my mission to create an army of life savers all over the country.”
American Golf are kindly sponsoring David on this adventure. Gary Favell, CEO of American Golf said: “When we heard about the incredible challenge David had set himself, we immediately wanted to lend American Golf’s support. David has found a way to harness his golfing prowess not only to highlight the importance of knowing CPR through his own personal experience, but to train people along his journey whilst raising funds for the British Heart Foundation – he is a true inspiration.”
Donations can be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-sullivan-77
Companies wishing to get involved in helping to fund a defibrillator in their region should visit www.creatinglifesavers.com