Plans to install a second life saving defibrillator in Harman’s Cross near Swanage in Dorset, have taken a big step forward thanks to a fundraising campaign led by staff at Foleys Garage.
Shop manager Hannah Gore and her team have been raising money since May 2025, driven by a growing awareness of how vital life-saving equipment can be.
Long serving Foleys employee Charlie Mounsey had his head shaved to raise £400 for the appeal
Another device in central spot
Although there is already a defibrillator at the Harman’s Cross village hall, with around 400 residents in the community and its position on the busy Swanage to Wareham road, the team at Foleys felt another device, in a central spot, would be a vital addition.
The team is aiming to raise £2,500 to fund a defibrillator, housing cabinet and trauma kit which could be installed at the garage for easy access any time of the day or night.
Foleys has already raised around £1,350 towards its £2,500 target through raffles, donations, sponsorships and a contribution from Worth Matravers Parish Council.
One of the biggest boosts to the fund came from well known Foleys employee Charlie Mounsey, who raised £407 by having his long hair shaved off at Mr H Barbers in Swanage on Tuesday 21st October 2025.
Harman’s Cross has a defibrillator at the village hall, but it is some way from many local homes
“Made us realise how precious time is”
Hannah Gore said:
“Recently our communities in Swanage, Harman’s Cross and Wareham have faced some heartbreaking, unexpected losses.
“A few people we know have had heart attacks and it made us realise how precious time is and how quickly things can change, so we wanted to do something positive that could make a real difference in an emergency.
“With this in mind, we consulted the Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership to investigate the process of Foleys offering our premises as a base for a defibrillator for the villagers to access as and when needed in an emergency.
“We are also aware of the accidents that happen on this busy through road and we hope to raise enough funds to allow us to also offer a trauma kit point alongside the defibrillator.”
Foleys Garage is centrally located in Harman’s Cross and will also carry a trauma kit in case of an accident on the busy road
“Life saving technology”
Hannah added:
“We know there is a defibrillator at the village hall, but I do a regular first aid course and at my last refresher session the subject of defibs came up and they emphasised the more there were, the better it is.
“With just under 400 people in the village and with Harman’s Cross being a main access route between busy towns, we decided to raise funds to offer this facility at Foleys for everyone to be able to access if required.
“It will provide life saving technology to the community, and although we actually hope it will never be needed, in that moment of pure terror after an emergency it will be available to help keep someone alive until the ambulance arrives.
“It is essential that any victim of a heart attack gets the proper treatment until they get to hospital where whatever is causing the heart attack can be treated. If we can do something as a local business to raise money to get a second defibrillator, it will be a huge positive for Harman’s Cross.”
Raffle prizes are mounting up for the next fundraising push
A Christmas raffle
Foleys, a family run business that has been part of Harman’s Cross since the 1930s, hopes to have the new equipment installed once the remaining funds are raised.
The team’s next fundraising event will be a Christmas raffle, with tickets already available in the shop and a draw planned for early December.
Before the close shave, Charlie had sported long hair for more than 10 years
“People have done double takes”
In the meantime, Charlie is getting used to the look and feel of his new hair style, and said:
“I have worked at Harman’s Cross for ten years, on and off, and it has been good to me, so I wanted to give something back to the community.
“I have been on a bit of a journey myself over the last couple of years, battling my own health problems. I was rushed to hospital with atrial defibrillation a few years ago and have been on a diabetic diet for the last year, so health has been at the forefront of my mind.
“My hair has always been long, so it seemed like a good idea to shave it off to raise money for a very good cause, and Alex Koerber of Swanage Antiques paid for it, which was really good of him.
“It was a shock to see how I looked when I woke up this morning, and a lot of people have done double takes. I actually quite like it, so I may keep my hair shorter, but perhaps not quite this short – and I still don’t know what I’m going to do with all my shampoo!”
The sponsored shave was funded by Alex Koerber and carried out by Mr H’s Barbers of Swanage
Further information
- Fundraising for a defibrillator at Foleys continues on GoFundMe
