Red Balloons Defibrillator Fundraising Campaign

Red Balloons are partnering with AEDdonate to raise funds for one mobile defibrillator for their charity based in the north east. This life-saving device will be accessible to anyone in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while they have groups and sessions out amongst the community.

A Bit About Red Balloons:

Red Balloons is a lived experience Charity based in Stockton, covering Tees Valley. We use Peer Support to support people with their mental health, encouraging them to use physical activity where possible, to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. Our volunteers are trained Peers and can offer a warm and welcoming environment and a safe space for people to talk about how they feel if they want to. Our services support people with their mental health and tackle social isolation and loneliness.

We offer Walk and Talk groups, Peer Support groups, a Ramblers Project, 1-1 sessions, a 12 hour a day messaging service and an online Wellbeing Group. We host the Tees Valley Peer Support Network, which brings together and supports other organisations who offer peer support and we co-host the Lived Experience Forums in  Stockton, Hartlepool, and Redcar and Cleveland. The Forums give people with lived experience of poor mental health the opportunity to use their lived experience and voices to change services for the better. Our staff and volunteers are passionate about the work we do and work tirelessly to use their experience to help others.

Why a Mobile Defibrillator for Red Balloons is So Important

Each year in the UK, over 30,000 people suffer a sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Survival rates are low, with fewer than 1 in 10 people surviving.

In a sudden cardiac arrest, every second counts. Without immediate CPR and defibrillation, survival chances decrease by around 10% per minute. Early CPR and access to a defibrillator can significantly improve survival chances.

However, public access defibrillators are used in only around 9% of cases, highlighting the urgent need to make these life-saving devices more accessible in our communities.

Having a defibrillator on the move, ready to use within the first 3 minutes of an SCA, can increase survival chances to over 80%.

How a Defibrillator Will Help the community 

This doesn’t replace emergency services. Instead, it provides immediate, potentially life-saving intervention while the ambulance is enroute. The quicker the shock is delivered the greater the chance of survival.

How You Can Support the Campaign Your support can make a real, life-saving difference. Here’s how you can help:

💛 Make a donation to support the campaign🎭 Host a fundraising event or theatre performance🏃 Take on a virtual sponsored challenge📢 Help raise awareness among friends, family, and the local community

To support this campaign or find out how to get involved, contact us on 01785 472224 or email info@aeddonate.org.uk.

Become a Community Defibrillator ChampionDo you know another area or group that could benefit from a public access defibrillator?

Join AEDdonate as a Community Champion, and we’ll guide you through the entire process—from campaign setup and fundraising support to installation. Funding availability varies by location, so please call us to check what’s available in your area.