A STUDENT’S lifesaving campaign has received a massive boost.

Kate Beresford, who goes to Settle College, is raising money to buy three defibrillators for the town.

And she has gained the backing of the local Booths Supermarket, which has said it will fund the cost of one defibrillator - as well as letting her hold a bag-packing event in the store.

Kate, 17, who is a member of the Settle patient participation group, decided to act after learning that the only defibrillators in the community are located in places that are not always readily accessible.

She aims to raise around £3,000 to buy another three, which will be located outside the college and at other strategic locations in the town which are always accessible.

The cash total is intended to not only buy the defibrillators but to also provide them with weatherproof cover.

Kate, of Halton West, has already raised £230 selling cakes at a make-up evening at Settle College and at other events in the town.

To support her, people can use the following bank account details: Barclays Bank, Settle branch, sort code 20-78-42, account number 00018880, account name Settle College – registered charity no 1049037.

Meanwhile, Skipton MP Julian Smith is urging people to join the campaign to dramatically increase the number of people trained in lifesaving CPR and help create a Nation of Lifesavers.

More than 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest out of hospital every year, 80 per cent of these occur in the home and often in front of a family member or loved one.

Fewer than one in ten people survive, partly because not enough people have the skills and confidence to perform CPR.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling for CPR and public access defibrillator awareness to be taught in all secondary schools, believing this could save around 5,000 additional lives in the UK.

Julian is backing this campaign and asking secondary schools and community groups across Craven to order a free Call Push Rescue Training Kit.

He said: “By joining the Nation of Lifesavers, I want to see every child in the UK finish school equipped with the necessary skills to respond in a medical emergency, which is why I am delighted to be able to support this campaign.

“CPR is an important skill and just 30 minutes of training could save someone’s life.”

At the event he met Samantha Hobbs who, at the age of 14, helped to save her mum’s life by performing CPR.

To help the BHF create a Nation of Lifesavers, visit bhf.org.uk/lifesavers.