The generous family of lifelong Wednesdayite Ann Walker nee Fenwick have funded a brand new defibrillator at Hillsborough in her honour.
Ann passed away in March of this year after a battle with cancer, and her mother Josie, siblings Anthony, Jane, Alison and Sally wanted to find a positive way to keep her memory alive.
The family contacted the Owls to enquire about funding a new defibrillator at Hillsborough, which can now be seen next to our South Stand bridge, with Ann’s name displayed proudly on the cover.
Josh Windass came to meet Josie and Anthony after the new equipment was fitted outside the stadium.
Ann was a mental health nurse for most of her life, and this gave Josie the idea for the defibrillator, so her memory would also go towards helping others.
Josie said: “Ann was looking after people until she got ill. The funeral was packed, hundreds of people were packed in, and it was a blue and white-themed funeral.
“I was thinking about what I could do, and the idea to have a defibrillator at Sheffield Wednesday just came to me.
“At first, I was thinking it could go at the side of the goalposts for when people get excited when we score!”
Anthony, who was having cancer treatment at the same time as his sister Ann, explains how much this means to his family of Owls.
He added: “We’re all big Wednesday fans, everybody in the family.
“My great grandads went to Olive Grove! I was put into the supporters’ club at three hours old!
“My mother wanted to do it and it came about during a time some fans had incidents at matches and Christian Eriksen had his cardiac arrest.
“We know a lot of people whose health is getting worse. We’re not the richest family ever, but it doesn’t matter, it’s about what you can give back.
“It’s a good place to have the defibrillator because there are activities in the park, whether it’s the park run or tramlines, and people who live around the stadium too.
“When we see it, we know we’ve given something positive back, and we know it’s Ann.
“We think this will help Gary, Ann’s husband, as well. He’ll be able to come up whenever he wants and see it there with her name on.”
The location of the defibrillator means the public have access to it whenever necessary, regardless of a matchday at Hillsborough.
The Owls are incredibly grateful to Ann’s family for their act of kindness and we’re delighted that Ann’s memory can be served with something that could one day save a life.
Josie added: “I feel settled now, because I feel that Ann is giving something back, just as she did in her life.”