The Professional Footballers Association our supporting a pilot programme aimed at educating players between the ages of 16-21 and their coaching staff on Cardiac Health awareness. TheHeart4More Foundation was founded in February 2014 by former professional footballer Tobi Alabi following his retirement from the game aged 19, due to suffering a cardiac arrest on the field of play.
The programme has already been successfully run in schools across the UK educating over 6,000 young people in cardiac health and will now be offered to 10 Pilot Clubs in the South, focusing on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation [CPR] Workshops involving the scholars and coaching staff from the relevant clubs.
Players and members of staff will be educated on the various aspects of Cardiac Health and shown how to perform CPR and utilise a Defibrillator [AED] in the event of someone suffering a cardiac arrest.
Tobi Alabi, Heart 4More Foundation said: “It is a fantastic step in the right direction and I couldn’t be happier with the support from the PFA. We have worked for a long time to change people’s perception and understanding of cardiac health and the pilot programme that the PFA have funded will provide a great platform for development within such an important area of health education.”
John Bramhall, PFA Deputy Chief Executive was pleased to offer the PFA's support: “The health and welfare of our current and former members is of paramount importance to the PFA and one of the reasons for our support of this programme. It is hoped that this programme, allied to Tobi’s own experience, will help to give a better understanding of cardiac health and how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator should the need ever arise.”
The programme kicked off at Stevenage FC who were the first of 10 clubs to take part in this innovative initiative at the tail end of February and the programme is set to run until the end of the season.
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