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Jay's Aim

Lots of companies do their bit for charity. Often, it’s a fun way to involve colleagues and customers in a fundraising effort that really means something. It can result in positive PR and a general feel-good factor all round.

But charity work is more than that to us at GM Insurance. It was an easy decision in decided to support the work of, a local, South West-based charity that means a heck of a lot to us all, and to so many people in the region. Founded in 2018, it was established with the target of reducing the rate of sudden cardiac death among young people, and was set up in memory of Jay, a 28-year-old from Exeter who died suddenly from cardiac arrest at the age of 28.

Over to Lee Galan, our company director at GM Insurance and Jay’s friend:

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I grew up with Jay, his siblings and knew him and his family since he was born, so basically lifelong friends. We were both Exeter based having originally grew up in Bude, Cornwall. We were also Spurs and Exeter Chiefs fans, and Jay had a very normal and happy life.

“For such a shocking event to happen to someone, and for them to lose their life so suddenly at just 28 years old, is something you never think will really happen to people you know. I was of course devastated, but to see how it affected Jay’s family was truly upsetting.”

Jay died in 2017 and since then, his family and fiancé have formed Jay’s Aim, a charity that installs vital lifesaving equipment and provides training that can genuinely make the difference between life and death.

So just what is GM Insurance doing to help this brilliant charity?

We’ve teamed up with Aviva, and have secured £20,000 worth of funding through the 2021 Community Broker Fund that will install and distribute vital ICD equipment across the region. This money goes some way to supporting this charity, not only with the equipment needed in so many places, but also to help raise awareness of hidden heart problems in the young. If we can help to save the life of one person, we’ll know that our input will have been worth it. GM Insurance is committed to doing all we can to help Jay’s Aim, so do watch this space for more updates throughout the year.

Would you like to support the work of Jay’s Aim?

Support Jay's Aim