New Defib Unit at Pāpāmoa Surf Club

A huge THANK YOU to everyone in the community who contributed to Mark Weedon’s Give-A-Little page earlier this year – a new AED defib unit is now in place at the Pāpāmoa Surf Lifesaving Club. 

Mark’s family came to the club to donate the unit, having raised well over $10k on the page. Mark passed away in August 2021 from a cardiac event.  

The beach was Mark’s happy place and his partner Kylie says this is why the family chose the Pāpāmoa Surf Club to honour his memory. Mark would be seen down at Pāpāmoa beach every morning having a swim and a coffee – even through the winter. 

Kylie set up the Give-a-Little page with the goal of getting more external defib units around the community and they raised enough for 3 units located at the surf club, Pāpāmoa College and Te Akau Ki Pāpāmoa Primary School. 

Whilst the surf club has defib units inside the building, the external unit means any member of the public can use it even if the club is closed by calling 111 to get an access code. These units are designed to be operated by people with no first aid knowledge, and will help the user administer CPR correctly as well as advise when a shock is needed.  

Thank you Kylie, Jack and Rory. You have made a huge difference to the Pāpāmoa community and we know Mark would be very proud.