Family raise more than £900 for school defibrillator after being inspired by girl, 9

A family has raised more than £900 towards a defibrillator for a school after being inspired by their little girl.
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After taking part in a non-uniform day at Dene House Primary School, Millie Watson asked her parents if they could sell lemonade to help raise funds to by the life-saving equipment.

Due to Covid restrictions it wasn’t possible so the family turned to the drawing board and decided on a nine-mile sponsored walk which they could complete together.

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Nine-year-old Millie – alongside mum Emma, dad Michael and older sister Robyn, 12 – walked from Peterlee to the Headland at Hartlepool to show their support for the cause.

The Watson family walked from Peterlee to the Headland to raise money for charity.The Watson family walked from Peterlee to the Headland to raise money for charity.
The Watson family walked from Peterlee to the Headland to raise money for charity.

Emma said: “We had a think decided as a family we would do a walk together from Peterlee to Hartlepool Headland which was nine miles.

“We set up a Go Fund Me page and we were really overwhelmed by how many donations we received."

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Dene House Primary School has now been able to purchase the defibrillator which will also be used for neighbouring Dene Academy.

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"All the years that the children had gone to school we never really though about the incidents that could happen,” added Emma, 38.

"You could have an emergency at school where a child or a teacher or member of staff needs a defibrillator, time is so precious and it can save lives.

"The fact that she had thought about that we are both so proud.”

The Go Fund Me page raised £935 towards the life-saving device.

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Staff at the school started fundraising thinking it would take the whole year to raise enough funds to buy the defibrillator.

But they’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the school community.

Headteacher Debbie Turnbull said: “I can’t tell you how grateful and how thankful we are to Millie and her family. Being able to buy it straight away rather than wait the whole year is amazing.

"It’s absolutely incredible, nine miles is a big achievement for a child and I know they were shattered by the end of it.

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"I want to say a great big thank you to our parents that have been so generous. The family of James Stevenson, 6, donated £100 and nine-year-old Jessica Mason held her own fundraising Easter raffle and raised £118 for the school too.”

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