A WOMAN who has helped raise money for defibrillators across Middlewich has struck a deal that will see hundreds of new devices installed.

Linda Boden, who works at Tesco Express in Wheelock Street, began fundraising for defibrillators a decade ago when her 26-year-old son Andrew Cliffe died of a cardiac arrest.

With the help of the Middlewich public, she has now raised awareness that will see 37 local Tesco stores and over 800 superstores armed with the lifesaving devices.

Linda said: “One of our big bosses came into the store and saw a thank you message from [Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome charity] SADS UK.

“He asked what it was all about and because he is very community-minded we had a talk about the work I had done.

“He thought it was fantastic. He said ‘I want all my stores to have a defibrillator in them’.”

Tesco has kept its promise, with Linda due to deliver a presentation in Widnes tomorrow as the project’s figurehead.

Although Linda’s ambitions were not always this high, she is now to be the subject of a short Tesco film that will document her story as well as the efforts of the Middlewich community.

“After Andrew passed away I wanted to get maybe one defibrillator in his memory,” said Linda, who initially targeted schools, pubs and churches.

“It has been a snowball effect and everyone has risen to the challenge.

“The more defibrillators there are the more lives are going to be saved. It’s a lifesaver and we want them in public places that are open all the time.

“All places must have fire extinguishers by law, which is great, but how many fires are you going to put out every year? You have more chance of saving someone’s life with a defibrillator.”

The 37 local devices will cover Tesco stores in Middlewich and the mid-Cheshire area, with each defibrillator funded by community donations.