First ‘public access’ defibrillator for Monksland

The first 24-hour public access defibrillator for the Monksland area has been donated by the Tony Parker Foundation.

The presentation of the potentially life-saving equipment was made by Tony's mother, Geraldine Parker, to the Monksland Town Team.
The defibrillator will initially be kept in the Athlone Springs Hotel but it's planned in the coming months to move it into a heated box nearby, outside Cunningham's Pharmacy.
Kelly Marie Neary of the Monksland Town Team said it was extremely grateful to Geraldine Parker and all at the Tony Parker Foundation for donating the defibrillator.
She said there were defibrillators in some premises in Monksland, such as a school, doctor's surgery, and Athlone Taekwondo, but this would be the first one to be made publicly available at all times. It will also appear on the national ambulance service map for the area.
Kelly Marie said this was "just the start" and there were plans to fundraise with local businesses to put another two to three defibrillators in place in other areas of Monksland over the coming year or so.
The Tony Parker Foundation was established in memory of the 16-year-old Moate Community School student who suddenly collapsed and died while warming up for a PE class in 2007.
Geraldine said the presentation was the 108th defibrillator to be presented by the Foundation over the years.
It also recently presented a defibrillator to Athlone Sub Aqua Club, and this will be located at the club's premises in Brick Island.
One of the Foundation's main fundraisers is its annual cycle from Mount Temple, which this year will take place on Saturday, September 15.