LAMANCHA now has a defibrillator – thanks to kind-hearted fundraisers.

The device has been installed at the Lamancha Community Hub in Old Moffat Road.

And it was all made possible through the kindness of Biggar paramedic Tony Haley, local agricultural equipment suppliers William Rose and Sons and Scottish Borders Council.

Cilla Davidson, who is a director of Lamancha and District Community Association and Tony’s mother-in-law, said: “Quite a while ago, Tony came up with the idea to try and raise money for a defibrillator. It has taken us around two years to raise enough money. 

“Tony has been holding first aid workshops at the centre and donating the money he makes so we could afford the defibrillator.

“They are not cheap. It cost around £1,200, so we are very grateful to him; to William Rose and Sons, who contributed and to Scottish Borders Council who made up the difference for us.”

As we reported when we launched our Heart of the Community campaign, the Borders is already the Scottish capital for surviving cardiac arrests.

Since 2014, survival rates have soared from four per cent to 29 per cent (the Scottish-wide figure is 16 per cent). But we want to go one better and see the region become the world leader.

Sweden and Seattle currently top the table with 30 per cent.

We’re teaming up with local groups and individuals to spread the word – raising cash and awareness.

We want to see a defibrillator in every community – to make sure every part of the region is covered should someone suffer a cardiac arrest.
And now thanks to the hard work of the Tweeddale community, Lamancha has its first.

Cilla, who has been involved with the community hub with her husband Alan since it opened in 2007, added: “We are now going to be offering more first aid classes at the Hub, so we can train people on how to use the defibrillator, in case it is ever needed.

“We will let people know when we have the classes arranged.”