STEVE STEPS OUT AT WHITE ROSE WITH A HEARTFELT MESSAGE

24th February 2012

In November 2006 bus driver Steve Wigglesworth was seconds from death as he suffered a heart attack while taking customers to White Rose Shopping Centre.

After safely delivering the passengers to the centre, Steve collapsed and his life was ebbing away.

The swift action of store staff and the centre’s then deputy manager Dave Downes and security supervisor John Honeybourne saved Steve’s life as they raced to his aid, administered Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and used a defibrillator to re-start his heart.

On Friday 24th February the 54-year-old First Bus driver now fully fit will return to White Rose with a heartfelt message about looking after your health and how mall walking can help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

That message will be underlined by Alex Hammond, Health Improvement Specialist – Physical Activity – for NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds.

White Rose, which in October 2003, was the first shopping centre in the UK to introduce Mall Walking, is looking for more people to take part in the daily sessions which run before the stores open and Steve will be putting his best foot forward to help with the recruitment drive.

He said: “The heart attack that nearly killed me in November 2006, completely changed my attitude towards life and made me determined to take more care of myself. Had it not been for Dave and John I would not be here today and I feel honoured to be asked by White Rose to raise awareness of the mall walking sessions that the centre provides.” 

Since 2003 people have been visiting the centre to take part in free morning mall walking sessions before the shops open. It’s an activity that helps them to stay fit and many have also made friends with fellow walkers as they take the gentle stroll along the quarter mile covered mall in warmth and safety.

Centre Director Peter Cook, said: “The importance of regular exercise, particularly for people with conditions such as angina or who are recovering from heart surgery, has been underlined by the fact that a number of our walkers were advised by their doctors to come here.”