SOLIHULL West and Shirley MP stepped into his walking boots to raise funds for defibrillators and bleed control kits.
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst took on a 20-mile walk along the Solihull Way, raising over £1,500 .
The initiative, in partnership with The Daniel Baird Foundation, will see lifesaving equipment installed at key locations in the borough, ensuring residents have access to vital tools in moments of critical need.
Dr Shastri-Hurst said: “This campaign was about taking practical steps to strengthen community safety.
“We cannot prevent every tragedy, but we can ensure that when emergencies happen, people have the tools they need to respond.
“These devices will help save lives, and that is something we can all take pride in.
“I have seen, first-hand, the devastating consequences of violent crime.
“But I have also seen the extraordinary impact that swift intervention and community action can have. This campaign is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together, determined to protect and support one another.”
The equipment funded through the campaign will be deployed in the coming weeks, further strengthening emergency preparedness in Solihull.
Lynne Baird founder at The Daniel Baird Foundation, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst for his outstanding commitment to saving lives across Solihull.
“His fundraising initiative to provide more defibrillators and bleed control kits will make a real and lasting difference to the safety of the community.
“At The Daniel Baird Foundation, we commend his dedication to ensuring that life-saving equipment is more readily available when every second counts.”
Every year, around 100,000 people in the UK die from sudden cardiac arrest, many of them in community settings.
When a defibrillator is used within the first three minutes, survival rates can rise to as high as 70 per cent.
The West Midlands also continues to face one of the highest rates of knife crime in England and Wales, making the availability of bleed control kits ever more urgent.
