A firefighter whose fiancée died after her heart stopped beating is completing a walk which will help raise money for life-saving defibrillators in London.
Nick Walton, a firefighter from Waltham Abbey, lost his beloved partner of 37 years, Nicola Bacon, two years ago this month when she went into cardiac arrest.
Nick himself suffered a cardiac arrest just week’s after Nicola’s death and is now also on a mission to have defibrillators installed at fire stations around his native Essex. So far, he has installed 26 defibrillators.
He is calling on others to join in his fundraising efforts by signing up to London Life Hike – London Ambulance Charity’s fundraising walk that aims to raise money for life-saving devices for the communities in London that need them most. There is just a month to go before the walk, which runs through some of London’s most iconic sights.
Nick said:
“I’ve signed up for the London Life Hike in memory of Nicola who I loved so much.
“Losing the love of my life broke my heart. But I’ve been determined to channel that pain into something meaningful so others can avoid the same devastating lose if they can.
“And for anyone who has lost someone they love – this is for you.
“My hope is for my story to help someone’s partner, parent or child survive a cardiac arrest because bystanders know how to do CPR or have access to a defibrillator.”
Nick and Nicola met in 1986 when they were both 19 and had just moved to London as young civil servants.
In 1991, Nick proposed to Nicola in front of Cinderella’s Castle in Disneyland Florida. Following Nicola’s recovery from cancer, they felt that their love was so strong that they remained engaged until she passed away.
A cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency where the heart stops pumping blood and oxygen around the body. Using a defibrillator alongside chest compressions, known as CPR, gives people the best chance of survival before an ambulance crew arrives.
Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, but most happen at home. That means these defibrillators could one day help save someone you love.
A defibrillator is a device that can help restart a normal heart rhythm after a cardiac arrest, when every second counts.
The London Life Hike, organised by the London Ambulance Charity, returns on Saturday 26 September, with a choice of a 6km or 21km route through the capital.
Money raised will help fund lifesaving initiatives in local communities, including placing more public-access defibrillators into communities and teaching Londoners what to do when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
Starting and finishing in Southwark Park, the event offers something for everyone:
- A family-friendly 6km route, complete with a fun children’s “Explorer Challenge” activity trail and accessible for wheelchair users
- A more ambitious 21km route, taking in spectacular views along the River Thames and landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and Shakespeare’s Globe
Join the London Life Hike on Saturday 26 September. Sign up here or turn up on the day at Southwark Park Bandstand.