A COUPLE who shot 2,000 basketball hoops to save lives have now donated defibrillators to two schools.

Liz and Lewis Purbrick, of Grove, raised £5,030 to buy the units with a four-and-a-half hour sponsored basketball marathon in December.

They have donated the devices to Fitzwaryn Special School, Wantage and John Mason School in Abingdon.

For the couple – parents to one-year-old Jack – the choice of locations has a personal resonance. Mrs Pubrick went to school in Wantage and Mr Purbrick in Abingdon.

Mrs Purbrick, 30, said: “They suggested schools because they are good landmarks, they are easy to find, but there is also the educational benefit for children.

“We would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who sponsored us and supported us during our event.”

The basketball challenge, which was held at Wantage Leisure Centre on Sunday, December 28, was inspired by Mrs Purbrick’s sister Vicky Gottwald.

Miss Gottwald played basketball for Wales until she suffered a cardiac arrest on court in May 2014.

The attack could have been life-threatening, but the leisure centre where she was playing had a defibrillator.

Staff were able to perform CPR and use the defibrillator before the ambulance arrived.

She fully recovered and was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition.

Inspired by her rescue, Mr and Mrs Purbrick decided to take on a challenge in her honour to see if they could help save more lives.

Catherine Barnes, from Fitzwaryn School, said: “We are delighted to support this community initiative by providing a base for this amazing piece of life-saving equipment.

“It is positioned at the front of the school where it can be seen easily and is readily accessible.”