Red Lion Tavern installs life saving defibrillator thanks to more than two decades of fundraising
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A MORAY hotel and pub has installed a defibrillator thanks to more than two decades of fundraising.
The Red Lion Tavern, based in Fochabers, installed the life saving piece of equipment on Tuesday February 14 after purchasing it from Moray charity Keirans Legacy.
The business raises money for local charities regularly through their annual golf day and have done so for the past 24 years. That has seen over £18,000 raised for worthy causes over that time.
Every year the team have set money aside, however, with an eye to making a more substantial donation down the line.
That goal has now been realised with the investment of over £2000 to install the new defibrillator on the outside of the building.
Johnny Russell, Managing Director of Highland Travel Inns which owns the Red Lion, was delighted to see the business make the investment.
"We've been really looking to push the boat out because over the years we've built up a little pot which we thought we could go really big with," he said.
"We donate money from our annual golf day out every year anyway. Normally we donate £500 to a charity of our choice and the golf course donates £500 to a charity of their choice.
"But we put a little bit aside every year so it was great to invest £2100 on the defibrillator.
"This has been a really huge one for us and it has been really well received in the village.
"I'm personally really chuffed that we've been able to give something back like this to the village of Fochabers."
Keirans Legacy was set up after the tragic passing of Sandra and Gordon McKandie's son Keiran in 2016.
To this day, the charity has donated 220 defibrillators which have helped save nine lives.
Johnny is thankful to see the defibrillator installed after a customer had a close call six years ago.
"We actually had an incident a few years ago where a customer almost passed away at one of our other pubs in Buckie," he said.
"A member of our staff worked on him for eight minutes and brought him back and he's alive today because of her.
"On the back of that the member of staff managed to raise enough for two defibrillators so it's great to have got one for the Red Lion as well.
"Obviously we hope it doesn't have to be used but it's there if need be."
The defibrillator will be accessible 24 hours a day and is highly visible and easy to access.
And Johnny says that some of the villagers have also expressed an interest in undergoing training.
"The main thing is that we've got it now and it's easy to access and located centrally," he added.
"It really could be life saving."
The business is set to hold its next charity golf day later this year in September.
