A mum-of-five is on a mission to raise as much money and awareness around defibrillators after she lost her husband almost 10 years ago.
Claire Axon, from Darcy Lever, lost Neil Axon on Christmas morning in 2012.
When Neil suddenly died, Claire wanted to start fundraising because it was "her way of coping", and a way of turning a tragic situation into something positive by setting up the charity Minutes Matter.
She added: “I went straight into fundraising.
“I think it was my way of coping and trying to do something positive.
“I set up Minutes Matter because minutes really do matter in life saving situations.”
Claire previously raised money to provide defibrillators in and around Little Lever and Darcy Lever.
She hopes that her charity will help raise as much money and awareness on the lifesaving equipment as possible.
Claire said: “I just want to give people a bit more confidence in knowing how to use a defibrillator.
“You don’t need to be trained to use one because the defibrillator tells you exactly what to do.
“It is amazing lifesaving equipment.
“We needed to make sure that something good came from something really horrific.
“Neil is missed very much.
“It’s really nice to have that support.”
Claire says that she wants to ensure that as many places as possible have defibrillators, so that "other families don’t have to go through the heartache".
Basic training is also offered by the charity, including putting someone in a recovery position and CPR.
She added: “I think it might be my purpose in life.
“I just feel that that’s what I have got to do.
“Every time I would see a defibrillator, I couldn’t help but check it was in order.
“I just couldn’t let it go.”
It is not known if a defibrillator would have saved Neil’s life, but Claire says it is a situation where it could have helped.
Claire said: “Not a lot was known about it at the time.
“And being in a situation where that is in place could help others.
“It’s all about giving people back control of the situation.”
In 2013, she held a family fun day at The Queens Hotel, Bradley Fold and through the help of the community managed to raise enough money for the first defibrillator for St Matthews Church House, which also involved the help of Bolton Wanderers Community Trust.
Claire added: “It was a very close collaboration with those in the community.
“I was able to speak to children in St Matthews Primary School and show them what to do, with qualified experts to help.
“Since then, others have put defibrillators in schools, such as St Matthews.
“It’s rewarding to know we have already saved lives.
“If you have saved one life then it has been worth it.”
With the support of family and friends helping fundraise over the years, Claire has managed to place defibrillators in and around Little Lever, including the Queens Hotel.
Last year a CPAD was also fitted in the A1 Chemist.
One of the driving forces behind her inspiration has been down to the support of her friends and family, who she says she couldn’t have done any of the work she has done, without them.
She added: “There was nothing available before, but now there are so many for people to use.
“It is the same people donating in the community, and they have been so generous.
“It’s quite an emotional thing because of the reason I started doing it.
“I know times are a bit hard at the minute, but any donation will help us.
“When people donate, it makes me feel like they are with me on it and understand what my family have gone through, and still go through.”
Click here to help Claire continue fundraising for a defibrillator box (gofundme.me/a74c6ee1
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