Kasabian star visits DMU to support SADS Awareness Week

A star of one of the UK’s biggest and most recognisable rock bands visited De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) yesterday, to help educate students on how to save lives.

Chris Edwards, a bass guitarist in Leicester’s very own Kasabian teamed up with Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) to help raise the awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS). 

Yesterday’s event was just one of a series hosted throughout this week by JHMT and De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU) for SADS Awareness Week.

Seventy-four students were trained in CPR and how to use defibrillators in a demonstration presented by the NHS yesterday. All those who attended learned a valuable life skill and were presented with a certificate.

Will Dudley, a third year Architecture student, was one of those who took part in the training which was delivered by East Midlands Ambulance Service, Community First Responders and JHMT.

“It was good, it’s really simple and easy to understand,” he said. “It’s great that this is being put on for students, it would be a bit tricky if it was a full day course but it’s only half an hour so would be a great thing to run regularly.”

“I saw it advertised a couple of times and I’ve been trying to advertise it myself to the hockey club. I knew CPR already from a course I did over the summer but this was a great refresher for me.”

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Steve Humphries, Joe’s dad, founded the charity in 2012 after his son died from SADS while out running with a friend.

He has made it his mission to raise awareness of the condition and is determined that his work with DMU, will ensure a ‘heart safe’ campus.

Earlier in 2016, JHMT worked with DSU to provide an Automated Electric Defibrillator (AED) on the outside wall of the Campus Centre to be used in emergencies.

Chris Edwards is just one of JHMT’s celebrity supporters. SADS Week will continue on the DMU campus this evening with a talk led by SADS expert Dr Ffion Davies and opened by rugby legend and JHMT patron Martin Johnson.

The session begins at 5.30pm at the Hugh Aston building is open to all students, staff and members of the community.