AN event is to be held in Innerleithen to teach people how to use defibrillators and raise money for life-saving research.

The British Heart Foundation’s Peebles Fundraising Group is heading to the Memorial Hall this weekend.

‘Heart of Innerleithen’ will feature a number of activities, including a tombola, bake sale, craft stalls and music.

And the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service will be on hand to demonstrate how to administer CPR and use a defibrillator – with the money raised going to the British Heart Foundation.

Muriel Prince, group leader of Peebles BHF Fundraising Group, said: “We’re really looking forward to the Heart of Innerleithen.

“It’s set to be a really fantastic day and we hope to see lots of people coming together to join us in the fight for every heartbeat.

“We are simply hoping to raise as much money as possible for the BHF Scotland’s life saving research, which will help make a difference to the lives of those fighting a daily battle with heart conditions.”

The group has also recently raised £566.77 for the charity by carrying out a bucket collection in Peebles. And it has given its backing to our Heart of the Community campaign – which aims to make sure every part of the region is covered with a defibrillator.

As previously reported, the Borders is already the Scottish capital for surviving cardiac arrests.

Since 2014, survival rates have soared from four per cent to 29 per cent (the Scottish-wide figure is 16 per cent).

But we want to go one better and see the region become the world leader.

Sweden and Seattle currently top the table with 30 per cent.

Gizem Fowler, BHF Scotland fundraising manager for the Borders, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Peebles BHF Fundraising Group for their amazing support. Heart of Innerleithen promises to be a great event and the money raised helps fund ground-breaking discoveries and identify new treatments that could help save more people from the devastating effects of heart disease.”

The event will take place from 10am until 4pm on Saturday, September 29. Entry is £1 and that includes tea or coffee.