Defibrillator gift is ideal says pro touched by tragedy

Winning the star prize in the raffle at this year’s TGI Partnership awards proved a case of perfect timing for Brian Anderson, (above right) the head PGA Professional at Brora Golf Club, near Inverness.

Up for grabs was an automated external defibrillator (AED) donated by TGI chief executive Eddie Reid (left) after he, too, had won the life-saving device in the raffle held at The PGA’s annual fund-raising lunch at London’s Grosvenor House.

AEDs can save lives in the event of a person suffering a sudden cardiac arrest and one was on offer at the lunch to complement The PGA’s and Arrythmia Alliance’s involvement in the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign 2014.

The former Ryder Cup captain survived a cardiac arrest last summer thanks to the availability of an AED and early response cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) treatment.

As a result, he has written to all working PGA pros asking them to help put on events to raise funds so that each golf club in Great Britain and Ireland can have one.

And Anderson had been planning to do just that, not least because of his own experiences as a golf pro.

“I’ve known seven people die on golf courses or in golf clubs as a result of cardiac arrests during my time as a golf pro,” recalled Anderson during the event at Marriott Worsley Park, Manchester. “And I also suffered a heart attack myself on the course.

“There wasn’t a defibrillator on hand at any of those occasions so the Bernard Gallacher campaign really struck a chord with me. As a result, I was making plans to put on some events to raise the money to pay for one for my club. Winning the one in the raffle here is great news.”

Meanwhile, a second Scottish golf club is set to take delivery of a defibrillator as a result of one being a raffle prize at a PGA annual lunch, this time in Glasgow.

And again the winner was a TGI Golf partnership employee – Adele McLean, whose husband Simon is the PGA Professional at Airdrie Golf Club.

PGA pros and club captains have all been sent a letter from Bernard Gallacher inviting them to organise a fundraising competition at their respective clubs.

Please take time to speak to your club captain and help back this life-saving campaign.

The closing date to register your tournament is March 1, 2014. To register your tournament or event email Caroline Holmes at info@defibssavelives.org.uk