The goal was to get enough funds to purchase 26 automatic external defibrillators (AED) for local law enforcement. With the help of Play for Jake, Franciscan Health and so many others, that goal was accomplished Saturday morning in La Porte at the Bolt for the Heart Race. There were two distances participants could choose to run or walk, 3.3 meters or 6.6 meters. The course was a big loop around Stone Lake and surrounding areas. 269 people participated in the race.
“This is our fifth year doing this,” said Julie West, Jake West’s mom and founder of Play for Jake Foundation. “For it to be the fifth year here in La Porte, there are no words to show my appreciation for my community. How I feel about my community and the people that are surrounding me. It helps me every single day and I'm thrilled that it's here.”
This year marks ten years since Jake’s passing, and West hopes to bring awareness to how important AEDs are with events like Saturday’s race. AEDs have the potential to save lives, and Saturday’s event helps to get AEDs where they can help.
“I just spoke to a gentleman here who put an AED in his company where he works,” said Pierre Twer, president of Bolt for the Heart. “A week after he put the AED in, one of his co-workers had a sudden cardiac arrest, and they saved him with the AED.”
With the potential to save lives, Bolt for the Heart has put over 3,200 AEDs across the state. Members of the Michigan City and La Porte Police Departments were in attendance to support the cause of getting more AEDs for law enforcement. Beyond just sponsoring the event, Franciscan Health Michigan City CEO Dean Mazzoni showed up to give his support.
“I think involvement in the community goes beyond just giving money,” said Mazzoni. “It’s important that we show up and participate. That is why I am here. I really support law enforcement, Bolt for the Heart, and Play for Jake because they are all great organizations.”
As a healthcare provider, getting the AEDs in law enforcement will also be important in saving lives.
“We know that law enforcement are often the first responders to a cardiac event in the field,” said Mazzoni. “Equipping them with these AEDs helps keep people alive. It’s just really a good thing for us to partner because it makes a lot of sense as a healthcare provider to do this for the community and law enforcement.”
The effort does not end just with the purchase of the AEDs, efforts are being made to place them around La Porte. They will also be going down to the statehouse to further strengthen Jake’s Law which is suggesting AEDs be put in outdoor facilities for football games and other areas.
“Julie is remarkable, and I can’t say enough about the heroic work she has done in bringing awareness to the community,” said Twer.
For more information about Franciscan Health, please visit https://www.franciscanhealth.org/.
