Hartlepool florist's big weight loss challenge to provide more advanced first aiders in town

Jemma Elvin, of Florian’s Florist at West View, has committed to losing four stones in six months to raise money for Hartlepool Ambulance Charity.

She is aiming to raise £1,300 to meet the cost of putting a volunteer through advanced first responder training, uniforms and communications equipment.

Hartlepool Ambulance Charity was formed three years ago to train volunteers in varying levels of first aid to help ease pressure on the ambulance service.

Jemma, 37, said they do incredible work and was the perfect motivation to help her lose weight following her previous slimming struggles and associated mental health.

She said: “Now is the time to make a change not only for my own health benefits but to benefit a charity that is close to my heart.

"We need more first responders. There’s plenty of people waiting, they just can’t afford to do it.

"Hartlepool Ambulance Charity is a non profit organization and the services they offer are purely powered by donations. It is functioned by volunteers who give up time with their own loved ones to support others.

"It costs £1,300 to train a volunteer to become a part of the team within the charity therefore my main goal would be to raise this amount of funds to enable the charity to gain another volunteer."

Jemma, a mum of two, started her challenge at the end of February when her starting weight was 14 stone 13lb.

She aims to get down to 11 stone by the end of the six months.

To help, she has been taking part in online exercises with personal trainers Joanne Spence and Paul Stamper.

Hartlepool Ambulance Charity currently has 20 volunteers all with first aid or advanced first aid training capable of dealing with everything from cuts and bruises to traffic accidents and serious life-threatening injury.

Charity founder Jason Anderson said: “Jemma is a wonderful individual hoping to raise funds to put one volunteer through First Response Emergency Care Level 3 training at £600, uniform including safety wear (£400) and radio communications equipment (£300).

"She is an absolute credit helping others out in town like this.”

To donate go to Jemma’s Weight Loss Challenge at www.justgiving.com

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