The events which unfolded during Denmark v Finland in the European Championships earlier this summer shocked us all as Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest.

Thanks to the generosity of our friends at the Big Match, Reading City Football Club now has a defibrillator.

Here at Reading City Football Club, we have hundreds of children and adults using the facilities here at the Rivermoor on a weekly basis, so we’re very pleased to now have this life-saving equipment on-site should the need arise for us to provide immediate assistance to anyone who may be experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.

Neil Humphries, founder of the Big Match, explained the Defibrillator we have received is named Elara. This is in memory of Elara Foxley, from Oxfordshire.

Elara was sadly diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in December 2019. Despite responding well to intensive treatment, including surgery, high-dose chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, Elara’s cancer returned in February 2021. Devastatingly, after being told there was nothing more that doctors could do, Elara died peacefully in her mother’s arms on 7th March 2021, aged three years old.

Inspired by Elara was created in her memory to inspire and encourage a superhero adventure in every childhood.

Reading City Football Club is honoured to receive a defibrillator in memory of such a special girl and in the event, we ever have to use the defibrillator, people will know Elara is the ultimate superhero.

The Big Match and Reading City Football Club would like to thank Nicky Foxley for agreeing to this.

The Big Match are proud to support the defibrillator initiative, which was set up by Claire Louise Page from the Lilly-may page trust, everyone at the Big Match is honoured to support this campaign with their team.

Lilly-May was 5 years old when she suddenly collapsed and tragically died when being collected by her mum and nan at school on 15th May 2014. Lilly-May suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

We’re truly grateful to the Big Match and to Inspired by Elara & Lilly-May Page Trust for their generous donation of a defibrillator. Two very special girls sadly lost their lives in tragic circumstances at a very young age but the work that Inspired by Elara & Lilly-May Page Trust will help to save many lives.

Club Treasurer Victoria Pyke said

“The Rivermoor stadium hosts many players from the local community clubs and academies. As we have never owned a defibrillator on site, this will ensure we can keep the community safe and to save a life, if ever needed. For this we are truly thankful”.