TWO more Gwent schools were presented with a heart defibrillator yesterday(Thur) as the Jack’s Appeal campaign closes in on its initial target.

The Argus set out in January 2014 – along with the family of 15-year-old Jack Thomas from Oakdale – to provide every secondary school in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley with the life-saving machines.

The idea came after tae kwon do star Jack died suddenly in February 2012 from a possible heart arrhythmia, but his family are yet to find out the exact cause of his untimely death.

Yesterday(Thur), Pontypool-based Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw and representatives of Croesyceiliog’s Crownbridge Special Day School were presented with a defibrillator each from Jack’s mother June, his brother Owain, and Welsh Hearts charity director Sharon Owen.

Ellis Griffiths, head teacher at Welsh-medium school Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, where the presentation took place, said: “It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a while and now, after receiving this, next year we’ll become part of the process to raise money for this fantastic cause.

“It’s an incredible story, an absolute tragedy, and shows if it can happen to Jack it can happen to anyone. We’re very grateful to Jack’s Appeal and we’ll be ensuring now that our staff and pupils will be trained in using the defibrillator.”

Richard Drew, deputy headteacher at Crownbridge, said the defibrillator would give piece of mind to the 80 members of staff at the school, who care for 95 pupils with a range of complex needs on a daily basis.

“The pupils are going to benefit from this,” Mr Drew said. “The school is also used for out-of-hours activities and so it is great that we have a defibrillator on the school site now.”

Yesterday’s (Thur) presentation now means only a handful of schools in Gwent are left without a defibrillator with £35,000 having been raised since the campaign’s launch.

Jack’s Appeal has also sparked another campaign to get a legislation to make the life-saving machines 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 last year to discuss the probability of introducing Jack’s Law and a further report is due to be published today (Fri).

l If you want to donate, or want to know more about Jack’s Law, visit welshhearts.org/jacksappeal or rememberingjack.co.uk