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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy’s New Initiative to Raise Awareness and Support for Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy has joined forces with the Peyton Walker Foundation to donate two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to NewBreed Youth Sports. McCoy’s new initiative, called Huddle for Hearts, aims to spread awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and raise funds to bring AEDs to underprivileged communities.
Inspired by Damar Hamlin’s Survival
McCoy drew inspiration from NFL safety Damar Hamlin’s survival of sudden cardiac arrest during a game in January. Witnessing the incident in a sport he plays and learning about the history surrounding it, McCoy saw an opportunity to partner with the Peyton Walker Foundation and give back to the community.
The Peyton Walker Foundation
The Peyton Walker Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest. They achieve this through AED donations, heart screenings, and CPR/AED education and training.
Julie Walker, director and founder of the foundation, expressed her gratitude for the increasing attention and demand for CPR training and AED placement in sports fields and areas where kids engage in physical activities. She stated, “We’ve been doing this for ten years, and now finally, people understand after seeing [Hamlin collapse].”
McCoy’s Donation to NewBreed Youth Sports
McCoy has chosen NewBreed Youth Sports, which serves approximately 100 kids in the Knoxville community, to receive his donation of two AED machines. LaTonya Henry, co-founder of NewBreed and a nurse, expressed her excitement about the donation, saying, “It excites me because I’m not only the president and commissioner, I’m also a nurse.”
Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A Life-Threatening Issue
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in student-athletes in the United States and remains a significant cause of death in America.
Conclusion
Through his Huddle for Hearts initiative, McCoy aims to raise awareness and support for sudden cardiac arrest. His partnership with the Peyton Walker Foundation and donation to NewBreed Youth Sports represent important steps in combating this life-threatening issue. With the increasing attention and demand for AEDs and CPR training, society is moving towards greater preparedness and improved survival rates.
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