We welcomed a very special guest to Whilton Locks Winter Wonderland. It was ho ho ho-nly Santa!
With his trademark red suit, long white beard and lovely laugh, Santa was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses so he wouldn’t get recognised. He said he was being incognito but we all knew it was Santa!
Santa popped in to see how the site was presented and took an extra special long look at the Grotto, to ensure it would be the best yet. Santa was very pleased.
We also showed him the real ice, ice rink. (He said it looked superb!)
We also showed him the real Christmas Trees. (Santa said they were looking fabulous!)
We also showed him our festive menu. (He said it sounded marvellous!)
We also showed him our displays and lights and gifts and snow much more. (He said it really was a Winter Wonderland!)
We also showed him A Dash of Magic, our Virtual Reality sleigh ride. (He said it was just like the real thing!)
“So,’’ we proclaimed “we have everything at Whilton Locks this year!”
“Almost everything,” said Santa. “There is just one little thing missing – it is quite small but it can make a big difference.” Santa gathered all the Elves together and told them about a very special helper he had recently met.
In the early hours of New Years Day 2022, Jamie Rees, from Rugby, suffered a cardiac arrest. There was a defibrillator nearby, but it was locked inside a school, so it could not be accessed. Sadly Jamie passed away on January 5th, he was only 18 years old. Jamie, a registered organ donor, saved 5 lives, this included an 8 month old baby girl.
Santa explained how a defibrillator is so special but knew it was such a long word. So Santa, to help the Elves understand, called it a ‘Magic Box’.
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, any time and at any age. With a Magic Box available within the crucial first 8 minutes, it can increase the chance of a persons survival by up to 70%.
Jamie’s family and friends launched the OurJay Foundation and installed their very first Magic Box in 2022 and now have over 300* others!
Santa smiled “and they have saved lives already however” said Santa, shaking his head “not everyone can be saved.” He wiped a tear from his eye and was glad he was wearing the sunglasses so the Elves couldn’t see. “The Magic Box is to offer help – and hope.”
“Santa – where can we get a Magic Box so close to Christmas?” Asked Procurement Elf.
Santa smiled, turned and pointed to the wall – there was a Magic Box! It had been installed, registered and was ready for use.
“Hurray Santa!” All the Elves cheered “It’s the magic of Christmas!”
“No” chuckled Santa, “It’s the magic of Jamie and Our Jay, I’m just here to tell a story.”
“Now…” Santa laughed “Now, you have EVERYTHING at Whilton Locks Wonderland this year!”
Jamie loved Christmas and this post has been specially written and comes with the kind approval of The Our Jay Foundation.
We hope we will never have to use our ‘Magic Box’ but know it is there if we need to.
<<< IMPORTANT BIT >>>
* We wrote this post two years ago. Time flies.
The original post coincided with the installation of the WLGV defibrillator – our Magic Box. The original post stated over 100 units. I think the WLGV one was 108 and our friends at Heart of the Shires Shopping Village 109 – so this remarkable organisation, OurJay Foundation, has installed 200 more, since. Incredible.
Our recent posts have been getting AMAZING traction (thank you), so we thought we’d post this again and here’s the crux. If you are a business, an organisation or even a local community group that could offer space for your very own Magic Box – a call or email and a bit of cash could get one installed pretty quick. We thoroughly recommend it.
A Magic Box – a defibrillator – is great thing to have and the chance for the gift of life is a great thing to give, this Christmas.
https://www.ourjay.org.uk/ Regt. Charity No. 1200846
