Eastleigh runner raising funds for AEDs at Great South Run

James Mahaffey, 45, had initially signed up for the October 20 event as a personal challenge.

However, after witnessing a colleague's life being saved by a defibrillator during the first Valor Football Tournament at Goals in Birmingham, he decided to support the charity.

James, who leads the Holiday Inn Eastleigh team, saw a teammate suffer a cardiac arrest during the tournament.

Quick access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) saved the player's life. This experience highlighted to James the importance of AEDs in the community.

The Great South Run will see thousands of participants running a 10-mile course through Portsmouth. For James, the event is now about ensuring life-saving equipment is available when needed.

James witnessed a colleague's life being saved by a defibrillator during a football tournament (Image: Supplied) AED Donate is a charity that supports the placement and use of AEDs in communities, aiming to improve survival rates for people experiencing cardiac arrests outside of a hospital.

The charity believes that more lives could be saved each year if more AEDs were available and the public was trained to use them.

James said: "I had already signed up for the Great South Run, but when I saw a colleague collapse and then be revived with the help of an AED, I knew I had to do more.

"That’s why I'm raising funds for AED Donate. Their work in placing AEDs in communities and supporting life-saving training can make a real difference."

To support James's fundraising efforts, visit justgiving.com/page/james-mahaffey1727783428967.

The Great South Run will take place on Sunday, October 20, with thousands expected to take part.