One of Britain's greatest sporting traditions – Boxing Day football – will be even more dramatic this year as Sky Bet marks the season of goodwill by pledging to donate £1,000 to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for every single goal scored across the EFL on 26 December.
As much as £100,000 could go to charity during an action-packed Boxing Day fixture list that includes 36 games across the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two.*
It's the latest move in Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation's Every Minute Matters campaign which has so far inspired a staggering 147,000 people to start learning life-saving CPR since it launched in May – meaning the campaign is more than halfway to its 270,000 target .
The campaign raises awareness of the importance of learning CPR over the Christmas period and hopes to inspire thousands more to take just 15 minutes to start learning CPR over the festive season on the BHF's RevivR online platform.
It comes as BHF analysis suggests that over 2,500 people** will experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during December. Tragically, less than one in ten people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK, often because people around them lack the confidence to perform CPR. About 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home. This means that the harsh reality that thousands of people face each year is that they may need to perform CPR on a close friend or family member.
Luton Town captain and Every Minute Matters ambassador, Tom Lockyer, said: “It's staggering to think that over 2,500 people will experience a cardiac arrest outside of hospital in December alone. It's even more astonishing to think that the vast majority of these cardiac arrests happen in The truth is that if someone collapsed near you and needed your help, it probably won't be any stranger, it will be someone you know. That's why the only gift I'm asking for this Christmas is the gift of time for people.
Tom continued: “CPR is a vital skill that has helped save my life and save thousands more every year. It's incredible that we've already inspired more than 147,000 people to start learning CPR, but what's clear is that there's more to do , so please take just 15 minutes this Christmas to learn CPR, it could make a difference.”
The reality of having to step up and save the life of a loved one hit home for lifelong Sheffield Wednesday fan Ellie Starks who recently met Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan at the club's training ground to share her incredible story.
Ellie – a palliative care nurse from Worksop – saved the life of her dad, Dennis, in August 2023 by administering CPR when he collapsed in the living room while watching a Sheffield Wednesday game. After experiencing first-hand how the power of CPR can help save a loved one's life, Ellie and Dennis want to play their part in raising awareness of the Every Minute Matters campaign and help inspire fans on Wednesday to learn life-saving CPR.
Ellie Starks, now 28, said: “Looking back, I don't know how I managed to stay so calm. I knew my dad went into cardiac arrest because of my medical training because he felt sticky and I didn't. I managed somehow drag dad to the floor. He's 6 inches tall and heavy and immediately continued compressions until help arrived.”
After going into cardiac arrest, Dennis was in the hospital for 25 days. Ellie who was due to get married two weeks after Dennis' heart attack changed her special day to make sure her dad was there to walk her down the aisle. She married her husband Jake on October 27, 2023.
Dennis, aged 71, added: “Walking Ellie down the aisle was very emotional. That lucky day really brought home to me how lucky I was.
“Ellie means everything to me, and I'll never forget what she did to save my life. I simply wouldn't be here without CPR; so I want to play my part in raising awareness of this vital campaign and I would encourage all fans on Wednesday to take just 15 minutes to learn life-saving CPR.”
Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan, who teamed up with Ellie and Dennis to support the campaign, said: “I recently had the privilege of meeting cardiac arrest survivor Dennis and his incredibly brave daughter Ellie, and I was blown away by their story. that CPR is a lifesaver, but also that anyone can learn CPR.
He continued: “It's not complicated, you can learn in just 15 minutes with the BHF's online RevivR tool. That's why I'm calling on all football fans to give just 15 minutes of your time over the Christmas holidays – it could make the difference if someone you know has collapsed and needed your help.”
Launched in May this year by Sky Bet in partnership with the BHF, the groundbreaking Every Minute Matters campaign aims to raise £3 million for the BHF and encourage 270,000 football fans to learn CPR.
The campaign has already proved a huge hit, with a staggering £839,000 raised so far, including £380,000 from the Sky Bet play-offs in May and £370,000 since August through Sky Bet's pledge to donate £10,000 for every 'stoppage time' goal during EFL season 2024-2025.
Coventry City's American striker Haji Wright holds the honor of being responsible for the most money donated by any player in the EFL, with his two goals on or after 90' contributing £20,000.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “With all eyes on an action-packed Boxing Day for the EFL, we will be celebrating every goal scored to raise vital funds for the BHF's life-saving research lives.
“Thanks to the generous support of Sky Bet, the Every Minute Matters campaign is going from strength to strength. With more than 146,000 people starting to learn CPR and almost £1 million already donated to fund heart and circulatory disease research so far, this partnership is truly life-changing – at a time when the work of the British Heart Foundation has never been more needed.”
There are more than 30,000 cardiac arrests outside hospitals in the UK each year, which is at least five every 90 minutes. Every minute that goes by without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 percent. And tragically, less than one in ten people survive, often because those around them lack the skills or confidence to perform CPR.
*Calculation based on EFL goals scored average of 2.6 goals per game
**BHF analysis of OHCA data from health and ambulatory services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 2024.