Luton to Stevenage leg of CPR awareness race successfully completed
The campaign is backed by Luton Town FC captain and cardiac arrest survivor Tom Lockyer
Luton Town Football Club fans joined team captain and cardiac arrest survivor Tom Lockyer, raising awareness in a major challenge aimed at getting supporters CPR-ready.
The Every Minute Matters campaign, launched by Sky Bet in partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), last reached its goal of encouraging 270,000 people across the UK to learn CPR—nearly two months ahead of schedule.
However the initiative to encourage as many people as possible to learn life-saving techniques doesn't end there, as the challenge continues.
Yesterday the relay race set off from Luton Town FC grounds, to reach Stevenage FC.
While Lockyer was unable to take part due to an injury, he reiterated the vital importance of taking a few minutes to learn a gesture which saved his life.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, he said: "You’re almost a little bit too naïve to just how often it happens and the devastating effects that it can cause. It literally can happen to anyone. It doesn’t discriminate.
"This is a brilliant campaign, and one I wanted to get behind. It’s amazing what they’re doing and we’re so glad that people are actually listening and getting involved."
The initiative uses the BHF’s online CPR training tool, RevivR, to offer free, accessible training aimed at improving survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
With over 270,000 individuals now having used the tool, campaign organisers have announced a revised target of 360,000 completions by the end of May 2025, coinciding with the Sky Bet EFL Play-Offs.
The campaign was launched at Wembley Stadium and supported by the “Re-Starting XI,” a group of footballers and cardiac arrest survivors, including Tom Lockyer, who experienced a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match in December 2023.
The 28-day event covers 4,000km, stopping at all 72 English Football League (EFL) clubs.
Public figures including footballers, broadcasters, and fans have been participating in the walking, running, or cycling legs of the relay, which aims to raise awareness and encourage participation in CPR training rather than raise funds.
Yesterday was no exception, with Luton Town FC fan Sam Ewington joining others in the cycle event.
Taking part in the challenge was an evidence for her, mixing her love of the club with her determination to get others CPR-ready after her son survived a cardiac arrest as a young teenager.
She said: "My son had a cardiac arrest at the age of 11 and he was saved by CPR in a swimming pool by a lifeguard. So without CPR he wouldn't be here."
Now 19, Sam’s son and the wider family have become strong advocates for CPR awareness, especially through their involvement with the British Heart Foundation and support for Luton Town FC.
"Since it happened, I've been a great supporter of the British Heart Foundation and then obviously support Luton Town and then what's happened to Tom, it couldn't be a better challenge for me," she added.
BHF Chief Executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: “It’s encouraging to see such strong engagement with the campaign so far. Increasing the number of people who feel confident performing CPR can make a real difference to survival rates in cases of cardiac arrest.”
The campaign highlights that over 2,500 people suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each month, with fewer than one in ten surviving—often due to a lack of immediate CPR.
Sky Bet has also pledged £3 million to support BHF’s research and its community defibrillator programme.
Tom Lockyer urged people not to delay learning CPR, and said: "Please don’t be that person who thinks, ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ or whatever, and keep putting it off and never get it done. Because this can happen to anyone, anywhere."