Knighton Lodge Raises £1,000 for Heartwize and Hosts Lifesaving CPR Training

Raj Solanki, who has led Knighton Lodge No. 4711 over the past year, proudly selected Heartwize as the Lodge’s charity for his term. The organisation works to increase public awareness of out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest, ensure basic resuscitation skills are taught in schools, and expand access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across local communities.

For Raj, this mission carries deep personal meaning following his wife’s heart attack two years ago.

To support the charity’s vital work, the Lodge recently hosted an inspiring and hands‑on CPR and defibrillator training session delivered by Heartwize. Members learned how to perform effective CPR and, crucially, how to use a defibrillator with confidence. The session left attendees empowered to act decisively in a cardiac emergency, because in those first critical minutes, action truly can mean survival.

❤️ Did you know?

• Around 80,000 people in the UK suffer a cardiac arrest each year.

• Tragically, 40,000 of these occur when the person is alone and do not survive.

• Of the remaining 40,000, survival rates are just 7.4%, largely because bystanders lack the confidence or knowledge to perform CPR or use a defibrillator.

  
  

These figures underline exactly why Heartwize’s work is so essential. By equipping communities, schools, and workplaces with lifesaving skills, they help transform bystanders into first responders, and dramatically improve survival rates.

Thanks to the generosity of Lodge members, friends, and the support of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, an impressive £1,000 has already been raised to help Heartwize continue this crucial work.

Together, we are not only raising funds, we are raising awareness, building confidence, and helping to save lives.