Tom Lockyer's Heartfelt Call to Action: Learn CPR and Save Lives
Professional footballer Tom Lockyer, who remarkably survived a sudden cardiac arrest during a match in December 2023, is spearheading a vital public health initiative this February. He is passionately urging football fans across the nation to 'Show Your Heart' by learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during 'Heart Month'. The ambitious goal is to create a formidable army of half-a-million trained lifesavers, equipped to act in critical moments.
The 'Every Minute Matters' Campaign: A Collaborative Lifesaving Effort
This crucial drive is powered by the 'Every Minute Matters' partnership, a collaboration between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), with staunch support from the English Football League (EFL). Launched in May 2024, the campaign aims to engage an impressive 500,000 supporters to learn CPR by the end of this month. The initiative has already galvanised a significant response, far surpassing its initial milestones.
Prominent football personalities have united behind the cause, amplifying its message. Figures such as Micah Richards, Jermain Defoe, Glenn Hoddle, Sam Allardyce, and Dion Dublin have joined forces, flooding social media platforms with images of themselves making the heart sign. This visual campaign is designed to inspire fans everywhere to participate and learn this essential skill using the BHF's free, accessible online tool, RevivR.
Staggering Success and Symbolic Gestures
The campaign's impact has been profound. To date, it has successfully engaged 450,000 fans to learn CPR, a figure that dramatically exceeds the original target of 270,000. In a powerful symbolic act, the start of every EFL match this weekend will be deliberately delayed by one minute. This pause serves as a stark, poignant reminder that with each passing minute without CPR and defibrillation, a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival diminishes by up to 10 percent.
Adding further momentum, Sky Bet has pledged a generous donation of £1,000 to the BHF for every goal scored across the EFL in February. Based on typical league scoring trends, this could translate into a potential £350,000 windfall for the charity within a single month, providing substantial funds for heart research and awareness.
Lockyer's Personal Plea and Survivor Stories
Tom Lockyer, who collapsed on the pitch while playing for Luton Town against Bournemouth and has since resumed his career with Bristol Rovers in League Two, expressed his pride in the campaign's success. 'It is a brilliant campaign. Our original target by this point was 270,000, so to be at 450,000 is fantastic,' he stated. 'We just need another 50,000 this "Heart Month" and we're going to achieve that by getting those who have learnt CPR to show their heart on social media and encourage others to learn it too.'
He emphasised the personal stakes, noting, 'I simply wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the people who acted fast and stepped up to perform CPR. Learning this lifesaving skill is one of the simplest but most powerful ways you can show your heart - because when someone collapses, what you do next can save their life.' Lockyer issued a compelling call to action, highlighting that with 80 percent of cardiac arrests occurring in the home, the life saved is likely to be that of a loved one.
The campaign is also championed by other survivors, like Wrexham fan Maurice Jones, who collapsed during a match in March last year. His story underscores the sudden and unpredictable nature of cardiac events and the critical importance of immediate bystander intervention.
Building a United Front Against Cardiac Arrest
Lockyer praised the collaborative effort, saying, 'I am so proud of Sky Bet, the British Heart Foundation and the EFL for the work they have done in ensuring this campaign is a huge success. This campaign really is building an army of lifesavers, with every single EFL club united in action to raise awareness of cardiac arrest.' The initiative represents a powerful fusion of sports influence, corporate social responsibility, and charitable mission, all focused on a common, lifesaving goal. By empowering hundreds of thousands with CPR knowledge, the campaign aims to transform public readiness and significantly improve survival rates from cardiac arrests nationwide.
