A WOMAN who has spent the past 11 years making sure people who have had a heart attack have the best chance of survival has been thanked by her local community.

Shirley Brokenshaw and her team at Teign Heartbeat have been responsible for getting 48 defibrillators up and running around Teignbridge.

Shirley says: ‘We moved to Teignmouth 11 years ago from South Gloucestershire.

‘A chap had just died in town of a cardiac arrest and people were saying things like: ‘In France/Jersey they have Community defibrillators – if there was one here he might still be alive.

‘They were right - not a defib in sight. 

‘So... I decided to “do my bit” and raise money to buy one for the town. 

‘It took me over a year to raise the £2,500 needed for a defib and cabinet (they are cheaper now). 

‘I never asked anyone for money but I made things, like cards, to sell, and held a Silent Auction and other fundraising little events.  

‘Gradually word spread and groups asked for talks (I knew nothing about defibs so had to learn!).

‘Everyone was generous and helped with information as well as donating. The first Community Defibrillator was installed outside the yacht club on the sea-front.

‘Now can I retire, do some painting and write books?  Oh no you can’t.

‘Now people were saying “One is not enough, we need more” – and so the journey started. 

‘Eleven years later a lot has happened – we are now a registered charity; I’ve done silent auctions, boot sales, numerous talks, craft fayres, book stalls etc etc. 

‘A  lottery grant enabled the charity to purchase equipment so that free Awareness Sessions could be held to show people how to do CPR and use a defibrillator.’ 

To date hundreds of people have attended these.

Teign Heartbeat has either provided; donated towards; or been involved in giving advice, support, or training for some  48 defibrillators around Teignbridge including Kenn, Kennford, Bishopsteignton; Dawlish; Dawlish Warren; Ipplepen; Teignmouth; Shaldon; Kingsteignton; Combeinteignhead; Holcombe; Widecombe in the Moor; Holne; Topsham; Newton Abbot, plus outlying areas such as Torquay; Bristol; North Devon; Lancashire.

Several lives have been saved as a consequence.

Shirley adds: ‘My latest project is to get defibs into local schools.

‘Did you know that, on average, one school-child a day dies from cardiac arrest. Yes, I know – dreadful! I will donate to any school wishing to purchase a defib but the take-up has been pretty poor.

‘Thanks to those schools who took up my offer and now have their own units. Come on the rest of you – let’s protect our children!

‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those (too many to mention) who have supported Teign Heartbeat over the years and made this possible:  Sainsburys (who made us their Charity of the Year); local people who help at events; the local council who have been a terrific help (especially Teignmouth Mayor Peter Williams and Cllr Iain Wedlake); Anne Marie Morris MP; and, recently, the Life Saving Club who, fronted by the amazing Glen Mayhew (who has helped over the years at Awareness Sessions), are doing a splendid job in looking after the local defibrillator units; not forgetting my patient husband Mike who gets roped in to helping and doing the accounts too. 

‘We are all volunteers and no-one gets paid a penny. 

‘All these wonderful people have helped save lives and made our area a safer place.’

Teignmouth Mayor, Cllr Peter Williams said: ‘I would like to acknowledge the sterling work of Shirley Brokenshaw of the Heartbeat charity with support from Glen Mayhew and his team from The Teignmouth Beach Life Saving Club and Iain Wedlake of the Teignmouth Town Council working as a team to bring the defibrillators of the town back to full use.

‘As we have seen in the the past, heart attacks and strokes can happen at any time to anybody, even super fit athletes, and it is good to know that through Shirley and her team’s hard work, we can be prepared for any similar situations should it occur it within our town.’