32West staff to tackle Keswick to Barrow charity walk

Medically trained strangers saved the life of a director at a leading Cumbrian PR and digital marketing agency after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jonathan Lee, a director at 32West and former managing director of Newsquest Cumbria, was in a leisure centre in January when, without warning, his heart stopped.

Thanks to the immediate availability of a defibrillator and staff trained to use it, Jonathan’s life was saved before he was transferred to hospital, where he received specialist follow-up care.

Now that Jonathan is well on the road to recovery, fellow director James Higgins and Client Relationship Manager David Coulter are tackling the 40-mile Keswick to Barrow walk to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, as well as South Cumbrian charities Mind in Furness and St Mary’s Hospice.

James said: “We are eternally grateful that first aiders in the leisure centre were on hand to administer CPR and use a defibrillator to bring Jonathan back to life. The incident was such a huge shock to us all, and it shows the importance of public places having access to defibs and learning CPR.

“Last year we completed the K2B with Jonathan by our side. This year David and I will be joined by my lifelong friend John to complete the Keswick to Barrow Walk in support of the British Heart Foundation at the request of Jonathan, along with two other amazing charities.

“Jonathan is a K2B veteran and completed the route in 2025 as part of a team of five colleagues at 32West. While I vowed last year would be my last one, I am proud to be preparing to tackle the route again this weekend in honour of Jonathan and the amazing people who were on hand to nurse him back to recovery.”

Jonathan said: “There are so many people to thank for saving my life. The medical help I received at the time from leisure centre staff, paramedics and hospital teams undoubtedly saved my life. I will be forever grateful to them all.

“The support and kindness I have since received from my 32West colleagues, clients and associates, as well as family and friends, has been truly humbling.

“I wish I could join James, David and John on this year’s K2B Walk. For them to be doing this because of what happened to me and raising money for such important charities is an incredible effort. None of us ever know from one minute to the next what might befall us, and I hope people are able to dig deep to help support three vital causes.”

 

32West staff to tackle Keswick to Barrow charity walk | In Cumbria