11-08-2025
Pub regulars proudly fund potentially life-saving kit outside their local
Pub regulars have proudly funded a new defibrillator outside their local – after one punter's campaign.
The Freemasons, in Farnworth, installed the life-saving kit on June 20, following the campaign.
Angela Reader, 48, also from Farnworth, started the fundraiser because there was no nearby defibrillators.
She said: "Basically, I started it because there were no defibrillators on this side of Farnworth.
"It's an important piece of equipment – it saves people's lives – and they should be on every street corner.
"Everybody is proud with what we've done because the money was raised so quickly.
"They were all so generous, so that made a hell of a difference."
The Freemasons, Farnworth (Image: Google Maps) Angela's campaign was gladly welcomed by landlord and landlady Will and Rose Moran, and she also enlisted the help of Claire Axon, from Minutes Matter.
Will helped with activities like football cards to help fundraising, but Angela said most of the money was raised the old-fashioned way.
She said: "We would just have a charity tub and went round the pub when it was busy.
"We were hoping to get local businesses on board – but we had already raised the money at that point!"
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Claire, a campaigner who started Minutes Matter to raise money for defibrillators across the borough, praised the work of Angela and the Freemasons.
She said: "The Freemasons have certainly stepped up and made their community a safer place to live!
"They are an amazing piece of kit and of course you don't have to be trained to use one.
"It's important we have them in as many places as possible, you never know really when you'll need them.
Will Moran, Angela Reader, Claire Axon and Rose Moran beside the newly installed defibrillator (Image: Angela Reader) READ MORE: Charity warns of 800,000 unseen young carers in England
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"We know they make such a difference to anybody who is suffering from cardiac arrest.
"The chances of surviving can be as low as less than six per cent, but with a defibrillator used within three to five minutes, the odds are then increased to 74 to 76 per cent.
"Locals have been so supportive, and I think people are now realising that this piece of kit is going to make a difference to someone's life."
