Community unites to donate life-saving Defibrillators in memory of local footballer

Cameron “Cammy” McGeachy was playing football with friends at Graeme Ramage Football Academy in September last year when he collapsed suddenly.

His father, Bruce, said: “It was a terrible shock to us. Cammy was very fit and loved sport, especially football. He started playing from school and was in local teams, Dunbarton Riverside and Dunbarton United, when he was younger.

At Cammy’s funeral his family asked everyone to wear red, his favourite colour, and to forgo flowers instead asking for donations for a defibrillator for Graeme Ramage Football Academy. They raised over £1,150 at the service then Cammy’s friends and colleagues asked the family if they could set up a fundraiser to further honour Cammy.

Bruce added: “His friends and colleagues at McDonald’s organised a football match, The McGeachy Cup, alongside the GoFundMe and a bake sale to raise money to honour Cammy.

“After the game, they presented our family with the cup and flowers and told us they’d raised over £6,000. We were blown away, it meant so much that his friends wanted to do this for Cammy."

The McGeachy family spoke with a close friend who works for the Scottish Ambulance Service who informed them that Helensburgh and Lomond Community First Responder, Stuart Harris, was one of the first on scene.

Bruce said: “Our initial plan was for one defib, but we felt we’ve got the money so why don’t we purchase more so that if anything happens locally, something will come good from this terrible event.”

The family donated four defibrillators to the Community First Responder group so that each member would have their own for future incidents.

Of the donation, Stuart Harris said: “We are incredibly grateful to the family for this remarkable donation. Their generosity, especially during such a heart-breaking time, will make a real and lasting difference to our community.

“These four defibrillators will allow our responders to reach more people while off duty and give them the best possible chance in those vital first minutes of a cardiac arrest.

“It’s a powerful legacy, and one that will help save lives across the Helensburgh and Lomond area for many years to come.”