Vinnie Jones Joins Forces for CPR Campaign: Football Star Encourages Fans to Step Up

With just 48 hours remaining before the transfer window closes, Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have secured a high-profile signing for their "Every Minute Matters" campaign. Former football hardman Vinnie Jones has joined the initiative, bolstering the star-studded "Restarting 11" team.

The Wimbledon midfielder turned actor, known for his on-pitch tenacity, is tasked with using his unique persuasive skills to encourage fans across the nation to learn CPR. Jones has a long-standing relationship with the BHF, having starred in the 2012 "Hands-Only" CPR advert, which has directly led to numerous lives being saved. His arrival on the "Restarting 11" team gives the "Every Minute Matters" campaign fresh impetus going into the 2024/25 season.

To raise awareness of the campaign, Jones features in a humorous social media skit, showcasing his distinctive style in urging fans to learn CPR. Filmed at Plough Lane, the home of AFC Wimbledon, the video follows a recent survey commissioned by Sky Bet, revealing a lack of confidence in performing CPR amongst football fans.

The survey, conducted among 3,000 football supporters, reveals that 44% have witnessed a situation where CPR was required, highlighting a significant skills and confidence gap. A staggering 42% of fans have never received CPR training, and 45% admit they would lack the confidence to perform it if needed.

The survey further reveals that awareness is the biggest obstacle for nearly a third (29%) of fans, who are unsure where to access CPR training. Inaccurate perceptions about CPR training also play a role, with almost half (46%) mistakenly believing multiple training sessions are necessary, and almost a quarter (23%) thinking it's overly complicated.

The survey highlights the fear of making a mistake, with a quarter (25%) of fans worried about doing more harm than good. Jones is helping to promote the BHF's free online tool, RevivR, which allows users to learn CPR in just 15 minutes using a phone and a cushion.

Launched in May by Sky Bet and the BHF, the "Every Minute Matters" campaign aims to raise up to £3 million for the charity and encourage 270,000 people to learn CPR - equivalent to filling Wembley Stadium three times over. Since its inception, nearly 70,000 individuals have begun learning CPR through the BHF's RevivR online tool.

An impressive £380,000 was raised through goals scored during the Sky Bet Play-Offs in May, with Crawley's players alone contributing 10 goals. Sky Bet has further strengthened its support by pledging to donate £10,000 to the BHF for every stoppage-time winner scored in the EFL's Sky Bet Championship, League One, and League Two this season, already raising £50,000.

Jones, a former Wimbledon and Leeds star, and a Wales international, expresses his commitment to the cause, stating, "Out of all my roles on and off the pitch, teaming up with Sky Bet and the BHF might just be one of my most important roles. It quite literally could be lifesaving."

He further stresses, "Sky Bet's football fan survey shows that low awareness and lack of confidence is holding fans back from stepping up, but the reality is fans have nothing to fear as learning CPR is simple and easy and only takes 15 mins with the BHF's online RevivR tool. This season I'm urging football fans to back the Every Minute Matters campaign and ask themselves one simple question - will they stand by or will they step up to learn CPR and potentially save someone's life?"

Graeme Souness, co-manager of the "Restarting 11," highlights Jones' impact on footballers across the English Football League, whose goals will contribute to Sky Bet's donation to the BHF. "We all know about Vinnie's persona on the pitch, but this guy cares. He did some incredible work with the British Heart Foundation back in 2012 and we just felt he was the right guy to bring in at this time to help drive us towards the incredible goal of having 270,000 people learn CPR - anyone taking the time out to do this could make a real difference, by literally saving a life. Every, Minute, Matters."

The BHF stresses the urgency of learning CPR, highlighting the tragic reality of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK. Over 30,000 occur each year, equating to at least five every 90 minutes. Every minute without CPR reduces survival chances by up to 10%. Tragically, less than one in ten people survive, often due to a lack of skills or confidence in performing CPR.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the BHF, underscores the importance of Jones' involvement, stating, "Vinnie's star turn in BHF's legendary 'Hands Only CPR' ad has played a huge role in helping save countless lives. For so many of us, 'Staying Alive' is the soundtrack of CPR, so it is a joy to have Vinnie backing our Sky Bet partnership to help hundreds of thousands more people learn this lifesaving skill. Encouraging 270,000 fans to learn CPR via our RevivR tool will give them the confidence to become heart heroes and step up during the ultimate medical emergency."

Sky Bet Chief Commercial Officer Steve Birch reiterates the campaign's mission, emphasizing, "Our biggest goal with Every Minute Matters is making a real difference by funding the BHF's vital work and getting more people to learn CPR. I can't think of a better person to add to our team to continue the momentum towards 270,000 than Vinnie Jones."

Through this partnership, Vinnie Jones, Sky Bet, and the BHF aim to empower football fans with the knowledge and confidence to become lifesavers, ensuring that "Every Minute Matters" in the face of a cardiac emergency.