A man undertaking a mammoth ten-week charity challenge will, on 2nd July, be arriving in Newcastle. His estimated time of arrival is 3.00pm. Former armed forces skiing and mountain craft trainer, David Sullivan, 58, from Surrey, began The World’s Longest Golf Hole challenge on 11th June. Starting at John O’Groats, he will be walking over 1,000 miles and making an estimated quarter of a million golf shots, before he reaches his final destination, Land’s End.
David is taking on this unusual challenge to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation. The money raised will help place life-saving defibrillators into villages, towns and cities up and down the country. At every one of David’s stops on his journey, he will be training local people for free on how to save lives using CPR.
David’s passion for teaching people CPR came about when he was faced with a life-or-death situation. When a young man experienced a cardiac arrest in front of him, David luckily knew what to do. He gave CPR for 17 minutes until the man could be treated with a defibrillator.
“It was thanks to my training, and a defibrillator being nearby, that I was able to help save the man, who luckily made a full recovery,” says David. “When something like that happens right in front of you, it makes you realise how precious life is and how important it is to know what to do in that kind of emergency. It was an experience which profoundly affected me, and now it’s my mission to create an army of life savers all over the country.”
David, who will be joined on the challenge by his son Freddie, 21, hopes his charity challenge will help teach as many people as possible the life-saving skill of CPR and will ensure that many more locations in the country are equipped with defibrillators. David’s fundraising target for the event is £60,000.
American Golf are kindly sponsoring David on this adventure. Gary Favell, CEO of American Golf said:
“When we heard about the incredible challenge David had set himself, we immediately wanted to lend American Golf’s support. David has found a way to harness his golfing prowess not only to highlight the importance of knowing CPR through his own personal experience, but to train people along his journey whilst raising funds for the British Heart Foundation – he is a true inspiration.
“American Golf champions inclusivity at every level, and we stand behind every player on their golfing journey – David’s is no exception, and we wish him every success on his mission.”
Donations can be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-sullivan-77.
Companies wishing to get involved in helping to fund a defibrillator in their region should visit www.creatinglifesavers.com.