A plethora of teddies and other soft toys were ‘brought back to life’ recently when St John’s Shocktober CPR Challenge came to Cambridge for the first time.
Baylie Wilson listening carefully to instructions from St John leaders. Photo: Viv Posselt
Concentrating hard are this trio of lifesavers – Ciera Bellantoni, Lily Sha and Fern Bellantoni. Photo: Viv Posselt
What was dubbed ‘Cambridge’s Great Teddy Rescue’ landed at Cambridge Primary School earlier this month as part of Hato Hone St John’s nationwide 3 Steps for Life ‘Shocktober’ campaign.
The free CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) programme is designed to give New Zealanders confidence to act when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. The annual 3 Steps for Life campaign is delivered free to thousands of Kiwis at schools, community organisations, marae and rural communities across the country.
Then Cambridge Primary School principal Mike Pettit, surrounded by those who contributed to St John’s Great Teddy Rescue in Cambridge event. Photo: Viv Posselt
Luca Rossiter meant business when doing CPR on his teddy. Photo: Viv Posselt
St John’s regional community engagement co-ordinator Nicky White said several St John groups, including youth divisions from Cambridge, Hamilton, Morrinsville and Te Awamutu helped deliver the programme at Cambridge Primary School. Also present was Cambridge Neighbourhood Support, Waipā Emergency Management, Cambridge Police and several food outlets.
Then Cambridge Primary School principal Mike Pettit, surrounded by those who contributed to St John’s Great Teddy Rescue in Cambridge event. Photo: Viv Posselt
“We estimate there were over 200 attendees, including our team, staff and volunteers,” she said. “Some 75 children saved their teddies and 46 adults took up the one-minute CPR challenge. We were blown away by the response.”
She said St John planned to do it again next year.
With the ‘great teddy rescue’ happening on the evening prior to his win in the local body elections, the then school principal Mike Pettit thanked organisers and attendees for their support, gamely joining in the one-minute CPR challenge alongside HeartSafe’s Henry Strong.
Showing how it should be done are St John cadets Scott Taylor, Ellamarie Steiner, Darian Templeton and Melissa Raabe. Photo: Viv Posselt
HeartSafe’s Henry Strong and Mike Pettit take up the one-minute CPR challenge. It was Pettit’s last gig as Cambridge Primary School principal – he won the Waipā mayoralty the following day. Photo: Viv Posselt
