Flyers to Donate AED Devices to Local Youth Facilities
Every Time Team Wins a Game in Overtime
by PhiladelphiaFlyers.com @NHLFlyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are proud to launch a new partnership with local non-profit Simon's Heart this Thursday, February 22 as the team takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets for Heart Health Night.
Every year, 350,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest in the United States - it's the #1 cause of death for adults and student athletes. It impacts hockey at all levels, and because of this, the Flyers and Simon's Heart are launching the Flyers GotAED Overtime Challenge to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest as well as to reduce sudden death among student athletes in the community.
Through the Flyers GotAED Overtime Challenge, every time the team wins in sudden death overtime, an automated external defibrillator, AED device, will be donated to a local youth facility.
In support of this program's launch, the Flyers will honor Simon's Heart Founder and CEO Darren Sudman as the evening's Community Teammate. Under his leadership, Simon's Heart has provided free heart screenings to over 15,000 youth; developed HeartBytes, a national cardiac registry of seemingly healthy kids; stewarded the passage of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act in a dozen states; launched Got AED, a crowdfunding site dedicated to getting AED devices in places where kids learn and play; and created partnerships with a variety of institutions and corporations.
Flyers Captain Claude Giroux will also welcome families that have benefitted from Simon's Heart heart screens as special guests in his private "Giroux's Crew" suite.
In addition that evening, Flyer Jake Voracek will host a special guest in conjunction with Dream on 3, an organization that makes dreams come true for children with chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities, or life-altering conditions by creating experiences of joy and magic through the world of sports.
13-year-old Zach has been struggling with Transposition of Great Vessels/Arteries (TGA) since birth, and has made the wish to travel from North Carolina to meet Voracek, skate on the ice with him, and watch a game. Zach will be visiting Flyers practice the day before Hearth Health Night to skate with Voracek, then will attend the game as Voracek's special guest.