Ahead of World Heart Day on the 29th September, Bolton Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers in the Community are proud to be welcoming special guests into the Wellbeing Hub ahead of kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday 13th January 2024, the club’s first team fixture against Cheltenham Town was abandoned after Wanderers’ supporter, Iain Purslow, took ill in the stands during the first half of the game.
Iain was given sustained CPR treatment by medical staff and paramedics at the stadium before being taken to hospital, where he tragically died later that afternoon.
Following his passing, Iain’s family have been raising awareness of all that concerns looking after your heart.
Today, with this fixture being the closest Wanderers’ home game to World Heart Day, we welcome family members of Iain to the Toughsheet Community Stadium and to our Wellbeing Hub to dedicate a newly-fitted defibrillator - which will be a permanent fixture in that space - in his memory.
In the Hub on Saturday, we will also have representatives from;
BCSG - Bolton Cardiac Support Group.
ABL - Weight Management and Smoking Cessation Service.
GP Federation - Conducting health checks.
NHS Foundation Trust - AAA Screening (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening).
Lagan's Foundation - Care and Support service for children with complex needs specialising in heart defects or feeding issues.
All will be offering advice and support to Wanderers fans about keeping your heart healthy.
Staff members from Bolton Wanderers in the Community will also be on hand to speak with supporters on the work done by BWitC, with the usual activities available to fans ahead of kick-off this weekend.
Phil Mason, Chief Operating Officer of Bolton Wanderers and Chief Executive Officer of BWitC, said: “Nobody associated with Bolton Wanderers Football Club will forget the 13th January and the tragic passing of supporter, Iain Purslow.
“Iain was one of our own, a dedicated Wanderers supporter but also a fantastic family-man. We are honoured to welcome members of his family to our home this afternoon to help unveil a defibrillator in Iain’s honour – a vital piece of medical equipment for the club to have on-site.
“World Heart Day is an incredibly important event in the calendar, helping to raise awareness of the world’s biggest killer in the form of Cardiovascular disease (CVD).
“Combined conditions affect more than 20 million every year, so by making small changes to our lifestyle – what we eat and drink, how much we exercise, and how we manage stress – we can better manage our heart health and beat CVD.
“If you have concerns, please get advice and support, and get yourself checked out.”
For more information on World Heart Day, please click here.