The family and friends of a Stewarton woman who tragically died last year have continued their efforts to provide a lasting legacy – and help save lives locally.
Laura Henderson was only 42 when she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in March 2021. She was very active, and had been on a run when she collapsed without warning.
Despite the efforts of those who attended to her, Laura never regained consciousness and passed away a few days later.
Since their tragic loss, Laura’s family have worked to honour her memory and leave a lasting legacy.
They have partnered with charity St John Scotland to install public access defibrillators around the area where Laura grew up, with the first installed at The Centre in Stewarton late last year.
Now, thanks to those who wanted to contribute to Laura’s memory, they’ve been able to donate a second defibrillator – this time at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Kilmarnock.
Laura’s brother Jason said: “We were distraught to lose Laura at such a young age and in such sudden circumstances. It’s been an incredibly difficult time since she died but, as a family, we were keen to do something positive in her memory, so we decided we wanted to install defibrillators around the area she grew up in Stewarton.
“Laura was from Stewarton but attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School in Kilmarnock.
“She spent many years in her younger days with her friends at school, and so there are lots of happy memories here.
“Laura made her first Holy Communion at Mount Carmel and it was, therefore, appropriate that we were able to contribute to a defibrillator for Mount Carmel Church.
“We have been extremely welcomed by the Mount Carmel parish since we approached them – they have also been fantastic in promoting the work of St John Scotland."
Laura’s family have also funded a defibrillator to be located at the Robert Burns World Federation in Kilmarnock and are awaiting planning permission to install it.
Jason continued: “We hope that by providing these defibrillators, we can prevent another family from going through the same heartbreak we have.”
Laura’s colleagues at Tennent’s brewery in Glasgow, where she worked before she died, have also been inspired to raise money in her memory.
They recently took on a ‘reach for the stars’ challenge by climbing stairs, walking up hills or even tackling a Munro.
Fifty of Laura’s colleagues, and her close friend Kat, took part in the challenge over three months, together climbing 125,000 metres – the equivalent of scaling Ben Nevis 93 times.
Together, they raised £2,000 which Tennent’s have matched to make a total of £4,000 and that will be put towards the cost of further defibrillators.
Stephen Dickson, quality manager from Tennent’s, said: “Laura was a shining light in the Tennent's organisation, her infectious enthusiasm touched so many colleagues and customers and her bubbly personality will be remembered by us all.
“We felt the challenge was a fitting way to celebrate Laura’s memory and raise funds and awareness for such a fantastic charity. If we can help to save one life it will mean so much.”
Chair of St John Scotland’s team of volunteers in Ayrshire, Jess Duncan, said: “Laura’s death was a tragedy for her family and friends, but it’s been so comforting to see everyone coming together in her memory to raise funds and raise awareness of cardiac arrest, to prevent more people going through the same heartbreak.
“It’s been an honour for us to work with Laura’s family, and her friends and colleagues at Tennent’s, to provide defibrillators with the funds they have raised.”
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