SCHOOLGIRLS Hannah Morris and Alicia Jopson have hearts of gold.

The 11-year-olds were so inspired by courageous youngsters fighting heart conditions, they organised a special fundraiser at their Farnworth school to mark the British Heart Foundation's 'Wear it, beat it' day.

The day was designed to raise awareness of heart and circulatory disease and money for lifesaving research.

St Peter's CE headteacher Lynn Williams said: “They had been inspired to do something after watching the British Heart Foundation TV advert which shows children of a similar age to them trying to articulate the name of the heart condition they suffer from.

“Their original idea was to ask the children to exchange their usual bottle green uniform and to wear something red instead and make a donation of 50p to go towards funding the life-saving research undertaken by the foundation.”

The two girls wrote a letter to all the children explaining they wanted to do mark the day.

And they asked the school business manager Beverley Bale to contact the “defibsforbolton” group to send a representative to speak to the children.

Mrs Williams said: “In response to their request we were really pleased that Tracey Wilkinson was able to come along this morning to give a presentation to the children.

“She spoke to all of key stage two in assembly, showing them in precise detail how a defibrillator works as she explained everyone should know how to use one, as you never know when that skill might be needed.

“She also spoke about CPR and answered the children's insightful questions.

“The children were fascinated and undoubtedly acquired vital knowledge.

“I am very grateful to Hannah and Alicia for their enterprising suggestion and we are proud to say that over £170 was raised for this very worthy cause.”

Mrs Williams added: “We are now on the waiting list to have our own defibrillator in school so that we can say we are making our own contribution to helping Bolton become a Heartsafe town.”

Alicia said: "My four-year-old brother Stefan has a hole in his heart and Hannah's grand-dad died from a heart condition. So we really wanted to do something.

"I am very pleased that everyone go involved."

Hannah added: "The children on the television advert were really inspiring, they were so young and so brave.

"It is so important we raise money into research because it could help find a cure for heart conditions and everybody in the school was supportive."

The #defibs4bolton campaign has seen 62 defibrillators placed in schools, sports clubs and community groups in Bolton.

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