ONE Suffolk club will win a defibrillator thanks to Suffolk FA staff undertaking a #LiveFootballChallenge as part of Love Football, Live Football Week sponsored by MH Goals Ltd.

Suffolk FA staff plus a couple of directors will undertake the #LiveFootballChallenge to raise £1,100 for a portable defibrillator to aid anyone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

This can occur to people of all ages, who to all outward signs look fit and healthy. When someone has a cardiac arrest their chances of survival decrease by 10% for every minute lost without CPR and defibrillation.

To find out how a defibrillator helped save the life of a fan at a non-league derby in Haverhill in September 2017 click here

Saturday, September 29th 2018 is World Heart Day – an appropriate day to announce full details about the #LiveFootballChallenge.

Love Football, Live Football Week, which is a week-long celebration of grassroots football in the county, is in its third year and this year is taking place from Saturday, October 13th until Saturday, October 20th.

The #LiveFootballChallenge will involve an exercise bike being set up in the county’s office in Stowmarket and, starting at 2.30pm on the Friday afternoon of Friday, October 19th, staff will aim to cycle a combined total of 312 miles – one mile for every club in the county – over a 24-hour period.

The challenge will end with chief executive Richard Neal cycling from Stowmarket and arriving in the FanZone at Portman Road half-an-hour before Ipswich Town’s Sky Bet Championship match kicks-off at 3pm against Queens Park Rangers on the Saturday afternoon.

Richard will be doing a half-time talk on the pitch to raise awareness of cardiac rest and the Suffolk FA project.

Suffolk FA Football Development Manager Jodie Allard said: “The team at Suffolk FA are passionate about football and supporting our clubs, and have designed this year’s #LiveFootballChallenge to raise vital funds to place a life-saving defibrillator into a local club.

“We look forward to delivering another successful week and celebrating everything there is to love about Suffolk football.”

To stand a chance of winning the funded defibrillator, for each £5 clubs donate towards the #LiveFootballChallenge they will be entered into the draw to win the defibrillator. Clubs can enter as many times as they wish – eg if a club donates £20 they will be entered into the draw four times.

They will need to post a photograph on Twitter or Instagram with supporting text on why they love football and ensure they tag @suffolkfa and use the #hashtag #LoveFootballChallenge to be eligible to win.

The deadline to enter is 11.59pm on Sunday, October 21st, and a winner will be drawn at random on Monday, October 22nd

Clubs – or individuals – wishing to donate can do so via the following Just Giving link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/livefootballchallenge