Team MJA get their walking shoes on for Stars Appeal

With less than 4 weeks to go, the team at MJ Abbott are getting their walking shoes ready for the annual Walk for Wards 2024 at Wilton House on Sunday 7th July.

Inspired by events last year, Technical Director Adrian Abbott shares his story about why he and his team of ‘53 strong’ are supporting this fabulous charity.

In August 2023, Adrian suffered a cardiac arrest, which is when the heart suddenly stops beating. He admits: “I was lucky to survive it. I was driving a forklift and then suddenly had a cardiac arrest. I collapsed and fell out of the forklift with my head landing on concrete. Luckily, one of my colleagues rushed over and gave me CPR while another came out with a defibrillator. I was given two shocks with the defibrillator and 20 minutes of CPR.”

Ambulance crews then arrived and rushed Adrian to Salisbury Hospital.

“I would never have made it to the hospital without my colleagues. I want to thank them, the hospital staff and the paramedics for saving my life,” continues the 54-year-old.

Adrian was put into an induced coma and spent a week on the Radnor Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Salisbury District Hospital. He was later cared for on Tisbury Cardiac Ward, where he spent a further week.

While in hospital, Adrian benefitted from a range of Stars Appeal-funded enhanced facilities on the ICU, including state-of-the-art equipment and a dedicated bathroom which helps patients with their rehabilitation, independence and recovery, that he describes as being a “five star” facility.

Adrian, who previously took part in Walk for Wards after his twin girls received care on the Hospital’s Neonatal Unit, said: “It is very difficult to come into Salisbury Hospital and not be touched by projects, equipment and facilities funded by the Stars Appeal. I want to raise money for the Stars Appeal as the charity benefits so many people in the local community.”

Adrian is joined by his colleagues at MJ Abbott and their family and friends, many of whom have been helped in some way by the Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital and the wider NHS, including Purchasing & Direct Sales Manager, Nigel Pritchard.

Last year, Nigel developed heart problems and, following various tests and an MRI scan, it was discovered he had an irregular heartbeat. With his heart working at considerably reduced efficiency, Nigel was fitted with a pacemaker with three flexible wires placed in three different chambers of his heart. Delivering electrical signals to fix the heart rate and keep his blood pumping to the required levels, the pacemaker comes with a built-in defibrillator which administers a shock to restart it should Nigel’s heart struggle, giving him the best chance possible of surviving a cardiac arrest in the future.

Nigel says: “Even though I know my heart wasn’t performing and I was very concerned at the time, with the help and assurance of the amazing heart specialists in various hospital departments, I have that reassurance of knowing that with this pacemaker and support I will continue to enjoy life in the best way I can. So, this is my way of saying thank you to everyone who helped me through this difficult time.”

Every day the Stars Appeal helps hundreds of patients across all wards and departments at Salisbury District Hospital and supports the NHS staff who care for them.

As a company, MJ Abbott is thrilled to be fundraising for the Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal through the upcoming Walk for Wards 2024, and our goal is to raise at least £2,000 to contribute to the incredible work of the hospital.

www.justgiving.com/page/mj-abbott-1717673779383