A local charity in Hartlepool has received a £1,000 donation from our Teesside team via Community Champions.

DS43 Community Defibrillators recently welcomed the donation from our Teesside Managing Director Sean Taylor at our Marine Point development in Hartlepool.

The charity was founded by David Cairns and Pam and Bill Shurmer following the passing of their son Danny Shurmer who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in June 2021.

Following Danny’s passing, friends, family and the wider community raised £6,000 for 3 defibrillators to be installed on Danny’s estate.

Last year we became the first housebuilder to install a DS43 defibrillator on a new build development, ensuring residents at our Marine Point development have easy access to the potentially lifesaving piece of equipment.

DS43 have installed 38 defibrillators and another 9 are due to be installed in the coming weeks with support from Hartlepool Borough Council.

Pam Shurmer, Danny’s mum and one of the Trustees of DS43 Community Defibrillators, added

“Our sincere thanks to Persimmon Homes and particularly Sean Taylor, not only for this generous award which is our second from Persimmon Homes, but also for taking the lead in agreeing to place one of our defibrillators on their site at Marine Point.

“Our aim is to bring defibrillators closer to everyone in Hartlepool, it is only with support such as this, we have been able to move at speed we have. Well done Persimmon Homes for engaging with the communities in which you build, our sincere thanks to everyone involved.”

Sean Taylor, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Teesside, commented:

“At Persimmon, it is our ambition to leave a positive legacy in the communities in which we build, and with our community champion’s initiative, I believe we are doing just that.

“It is a pleasure to be able to make a donation to Pam, Bill and the whole team at DS43, I have no doubt the amazing work they are carrying out will save lives in Hartlepool”