Two kind-hearted kids are raising cash to buy a life-saving defibrillator for their school.
Eight-year-old Ruairidh Harper had a major heart operation in 2020 aged just three. Together with little sister Hayley, Ruairidh, who attends Morningside Primary School decided to fundraise after the school decided it wanted to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) for the village.
A JustGiving page was set up by mum Vikki and within hours had smashed its £200 target. In fact over £900 was raised in 24 hours with the total now standing at over £1200.
Vikki said: “The amount that has been raised in such a short time period has been incredible. This was the schools initiative to get a defibrillator not ours. The initial funding was for the kids to take a donation in to the school for dress down day.
“However due to family circumstances, Ruairidh and Hayley took it upon themselves to raise more money towards the AED. They are very aware of the family circumstances and the need for getting more out in the community
“Ruairidh in particular has been so chuffed whenever he sees the total. He wants to go and check it all the time.
“The school are aware of the page and have put it out on their social media; it has been brilliant.
“People’s generosity is incredible. I don’t know many of the people who have donated so we want to thank them all.
“The aim is to raise the money so that the AED will be installed outside the school gates, ensuring it is accessible not only to students and staff but also to the entire community.”
Raising money for a defibrillator is a cause which is literally close to Ruairidh’s heart.
A trip to the doctors while on a family holiday to Portugal revealed a problem with this heart.
Later that year, he underwent a marathon seven hour operation at the Royal Hospital for Children at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Sadly in 2024, Vikki also lost her mum Liz Thomson who died following a cardiac arrest while her uncle John Leyden also passed away after a cardiac arrest in 2022.
Vikki added: “When we were on holiday we took Ruairidh to the doctor because he had a rash.
“The doctor took a look at and immediately said it was a heart murmur; I couldn’t believe it.
“I work in nursing and didn’t see it; there is no doubt in my mind that the Portuguese doctor saved his life.
“The operation was a long one. He was in there for six or seven hours.
“But you know what kids are like, they just take it in their stride while myself and my husband were doing the worrying.
“What he’s been through in such a short period of his life is something you wouldn’t wish upon to your worst enemy.”
When someone collapses with a cardiac arrest, their heart can go into a kind of quivering limbo called fibrillation.
One of the most effective ways to get it going again is with a sudden and powerful electric shock – and that’s the life-saving job a defibrillator does.
Equipment like this used to require hours of training.
However, with devices now portable, fully automatic defibrillators are being installed in public places so even amateur first-aiders can administer them with minimal instruction.
To donate to Ruairidh and Hayley’s fundraising page visit here.
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