THREE more schools have been presented with defibrillators as part of Jack’s Appeal, as the campaign’s target nears its halfway point after just nine months.

Back at the end of January this year the Argus teamed up with June and Grant Thomas, the parents of Jack Thomas who died suddenly in February 2012 from an undetected heart problem.

A campaign was launched to provide defibrillators to every secondary school in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley.

On Friday, Abertillery Comprehensive, Brynmawr Foundation School and Ebbw Fawr Learning Community became the latest schools to be presented with a defibrillator each, after ASDA Brynmawr raised more than £3,000 following a series of fundraising events.

It means 14 schools have now directly benefitted from Jack’s Appeal, while at least five schools have bought their own defibrillator.

Nearly £17,000 has been raised in the appeal’s first nine months, with the defibrillators costing around £1,000 each.

The campaign aims to have all 43 schools in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley provided with access to a defibrillator - a potentially life-saving machine.

Since its launch, Jack’s Appeal has also sparked another campaign to get a legislation to make heart defibrillators available in every public place in Wales.

Newport nurse Phil Hill, who is leading the petition, spoke alongside Mrs Thomas at the Senedd in Cardiff earlier this year to discuss the probability of introducing Jack’s Law. A debate is due to take place in the Senedd chambers, in front of First Minister Carwyn Jones, surrounding the issue next month.

Mrs Thomas said: “To me it’s been successful in getting the word out. It’s just as important [as raising money] to raise awareness.

“When I was at the school on Friday, kids were coming up to me and asking me how Jack died and they were totally shocked when I told them. People can’t believe it happens to young people, but it does.

“As long as we keep getting the message out there, its’ working. It was great to do three schools in one go.

“It’s hard to keep the fundraising going. People can get fed up – there’s only so many functions people can put on. But the support has been really great.”

Speaking after the presentation on Friday, James Retallick, headteacher at Brynmawr Foundation School, said: “We don’t have anyone with heart conditions here at the school but it is good to know that if anyone did have a problem, say a visitor or a grandparent, that we have one on site. We are hoping to get a container so that we can put the defibrillator outside near the school entrance, that way sports teams on the weekends can use it if necessary.

“We are delighted to be part of Jack’s Appeal. We hope the defibrillator never gets used but are glad that it will be here if it is needed.”

The school raised £500 to go towards the cost of the defibrillator which will be kept in the reception area of the school. The head boy Tomos Britton-Yemm, year 11, and head girl Olivia Bird, year 11, both attended the event on Friday.

Robert Bradley, assistant headteacher, said they hope to raise more money for the Jack Appeal.

He said: “We are very happy to support such a good cause. We are very much looking forward to Mrs Thomas talking to the school council.”

If you would like to help fundraise for Jack’s Appeal, get involved on the new website, entitled ‘Remembering Jack’, on www.rememberingjack.co.uk.

You can also donate by going online and visiting welshhearts.org/jacksappeal. Alternatively, donate by sending a cheque payable to 'Welsh Hearts' to Temple Court, 13a Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA. Put reference 'Jack Thomas defibs appeal' on the back of the envelope.