Dirk backs Oliver King Foundation

(From left to right: Liverpool's Mark Haig, Cllr Pam Thomas, Dirk Kuyt, Mark King, Cllr Jake Morrison)

The foundation was set up in March 2011 following the death of Oliver King, a 12-year-old boy who died in Wavertree of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

The foundation's aim is to have the government introduce defibrillators to all public buildings by 2017, and provide staff with the appropriate training.

In addition, the Oliver King Foundation also wants all people aged between 12 and 35 offered a simple ECG test, which could reduce the current death rate of 12 young people a week.

In April this year Liverpool Football Club officially announced its backing for an e-petition launched by the foundation which calls on the government to take action on Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.

Cllr Jake Morrison, patron of the Oliver King Foundation, told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It is great news that Liverpool Football Club are backing our e-petition.

"We recently reached 10,000 signatures, which is a great backing, but before the government will consider this for debate, we need to reach 100,000. We want all public buildings to have defibrillators. They save lives and they are small pieces of equipment."

Mark King, Oliver's father, said: "We need to get to 100,000 signatures as soon as possible, so that the government can consider action." 

Mark Haig, of Liverpool FC's Action for Health programme, added: "The LFC foundation is supporting the Oliver King Foundation in their campaign for the use of defibrillators in public places. As a public health initiative, this would undoubtedly contribute to saving the lives of so many young people.

"The club's LFC Foundation is currently involved in a new project with a range of partners looking at first aid training for young people."

Click here to view the e-Petition>>

For more information about The Oliver King Foundation, click here>>