Swans kick off matchday charity support with Cariad
As part of Swansea City’s ongoing commitment to supporting charities and good causes, this season we will be backing a different charity – and showcasing the work they do – at each of our home fixtures.
Kicking off the season, not-for-profit defibrillator charity Cariad return to the Liberty to provide supporters with information and defibrillator demonstrations.
Following on from the successful partnership last season, the Swans will be continuing to work with Cariad to supply defibrillators to the main playing fields in Swansea and local football leagues in the area.
The Swansea City defibrillator programme was launched following the tragic death of local footballer and fan Mitchell Joseph, who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for his local league team. There was no defibrillator available at the playing field and Mitchell sadly passed away in hospital.
After Mitchell’s friends and family raised £10,595 for his partner with a bucket collection before a home game, the Swans came up with the defibrillator initiative in conjunction with Cariad and Mitchell’s friends and family.
The club matched the funds raised and initially purchased 15 defibrillators before pledging to add an additional unit for every goal the team scored until the end of the season.
As a result, a total of 38 defibrillators have been purchased and placed in Swansea and the local area, with Mitchell’s friends and family at the centre of the selection process.
A plaque in Mitchell’s memory has also been placed with every defibrillator.
This season, the club has pledged to continue the programme with the purchase of one defibrillator for every victory Graham Potter’s side secures, meaning that another life-saving unit will be put into the local community thanks to the side’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield United last weekend.
Set up in 2003, Cariad was founded with the aim of raising awareness and providing defibrillators to communities, schools and sporting clubs across Wales.
To date, the charity has supplied a total of 900 defibrillators and provided free basic life support and defibrillator training to various organisations across the country.
Cariad will be situated outside the club shop and in the Sinclair Lounge prior to kick-off.
If you would like to assist with the defibrillator programme in your area, or want further information on Cariad and the services they provide, please visit Cariad at www.mycariad.org.
If you would like more information on how we can support charities on a match day, please contact charity@swanseacity.com.
