Sky Bet to pledge £1k to British Heart Foundation for every Boxing Day goal in the EFL

One of Britain’s greatest sporting traditions – Boxing Day football – is set to be even more dramatic this year as Sky Bet marks the season of goodwill by vowing to donate £1000 to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for every single goal across the EFL on the 26th December.

As much as £100,000 could be going to the charity over the course of 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 an incredible 147,000 people to start learning lifesaving CPR since it launched in May – meaning the campaign is more than half-way towards its 270,000 target.

The campaign is ramping up awareness of the importance of learning CPR over the Christmas period and is hoping to inspire thousands more to just take 15 minutes to start learning CPR during the holiday season on the BHF’s RevivR online platform.

It comes as BHF analysis suggests that over 2,500 people** will suffer 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 those around them don’t have the confidence to perform CPR. Around 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home. That means the stark reality facing thousands of people every 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 astonishing to think that over 2,500 people will suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest during December alone. It’s even more astonishing to think the vast majority of those cardiac arrests happen in the home. The truth is if someone collapsed near you and needed your help it likely won’t be stranger, it will be someone you know and love. That’s why the only gift I’m asking for this Christmas is the gift of people’s time. In just 15 minutes anyone can learn lifesaving CPR with the help of the BHF’s online RevivR tool.

Tom continued: “CPR is a vital skill that helped save my life and saves thousands more every year. It’s amazing that we’ve already inspired over 147,000 people to start learning CPR, but what’s clear is that there’s more still to do, so please take just 15 minutes this Christmas to learn CPR it could make all the 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 up with Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan at the club training ground to share her incredible story.

Ellie – a palliative care nurse from Worksop – saved her Dad, Dennis’s, life in August 2023 by administering CPR when he collapsed in the living room while watching a Sheffield Wednesday game. Having experienced first-hand how the power of CPR can help save the life of a loved one, Ellie and Dennis are keen to play their part in driving awareness of the Every Minute Matters campaign and help inspire Wednesday fans to learn lifesaving CPR.

Ellie Starks, now aged 28, said: “Looking back now, I don’t know how I managed to stay so calm. I knew Dad had suffered a cardiac arrest from my medical training as he felt clammy, and I couldn’t feel a pulse. I managed somehow to drag Dad onto the floor. He’s 6ft 2ins and weighs 15 stone. My CPR training immediately kicked in and I just kept going with the compressions until help arrived.”

Following his cardiac arrest Dennis was in hospital for 25 days. Ellie who was due to get married two weeks after Dennis’ cardiac arrest rearranged her special day to make sure her dad was there to walk her down the aisle. She went on to marry husband, Jake, on 27 October 2023.

Dennis, aged 71, added: “Walking Ellie down the aisle was very emotional. That happy day really brought home to me just how lucky I’d been.

“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; it’s why I want to play my part in raising awareness of this vital campaign and I’d encourage all Wednesday fans to spare just 15 minutes to learn lifesaving CPR.”

Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan who has teamed up with Ellie and Dennis to back 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. What really hit home to me isn’t just that CPR is a lifesaver, it’s 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 time over the Christmas holidays – it could make all the difference if someone you know collapsed and needed your help.”

Launched in May this year by Sky Bet in partnership with the BHF, the groundbreaking Every Minute Matters campaign is on a mission to raise £3 million for the BHF and encourage 270,000 football fans to learn CPR.

The campaign has already proved a big hit, with an incredible £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 the EFL 2024-2025 season.

Coventry City’s American striker Haji Wright holds the honour of being responsible for the most money donated of any player in the EFL, with his two goals on or after the 90′ mark contributing £20,000.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “With all eyes on an action-packed Boxing Day for the EFL, we will be celebrating every goal that’s scored to raise vital funds for BHF’s lifesaving research.

“Thanks to Sky Bet’s generous support, the Every Minute Matters campaign is going from strength to strength. With more than 146,000 people starting to learn CPR and nearly £1m already donated to fund research into heart and circulatory diseases so far, this partnership is truly life-changing – at a time when the British Heart Foundation’s work has never been more needed.”

There are more than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, equating to at least five every 90 minutes. Each minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent. 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 scoring average of 2.6 goals per game

**BHF analysis of OHCA data from health and ambulance services in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 2024.