SaveHeart Stories Newsletter April 2026
News to Use in the Fight Against Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Hello friends,
Spring is here! People are getting outside, kids have started their spring sports seasons, and the air is filled with laughter and excitement. Outdoor activities abound. It feels great, doesn’t it?
But beneath the cheers, there’s a silent reality: Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) remains the leading natural cause of death on school campuses and for student-athletes.
Most people don’t know that 1 in 300 youths have an undiagnosed heart condition, or that SCA claims the lives of an estimated 23,000 youth every year. Most exhibited no warning signs and
passed their routine physicals. They looked and felt healthy. They were just living life, having fun, playing sports, being active, and competing.
This April, during National Youth Sports Safety Month, we’re excited to announce a new program to help guard against SCA emergencies and bridge the safety gap: SaveHeart Fundraising. The same state-of-the-art digital fundraising platform that thousands of other schools, teams, and organizations have used successfully is now available to you.
Every second counts during an emergency; don’t let a locked school door or budget constraints stand between lifesaving technology and our treasured young people.
We will build your customized campaign, and make it easy to fund a highly visible, all-weather, temperature regulated, 24×7 monitored SaveHeart cabinet where it’s needed most- on the sidelines where it’s never more than a few steps away.
Get started today, and we’ll work together to save more lives!
God bless you,
Dave Fritzsche,
Founder, SaveHeart by HeartNation
HeartNation Happenings…
A Lasting Legacy for the Next Generation in Ohio
Thanks to Lauren White and the Matthew Mangine Jr. One Shot Foundation, a life-saving AED cabinet has been installed at St. John the Baptist Parish in memory of Lauren’s father, John Hadden.
Made possible through the support of family and friends, this outdoor AED is now visible, accessible, and available 24/7, right where kids play and families gather.
For Emerson, Bennett, and their Jaguar teammates, it adds a layer of protection. For their family, it’s a lasting way for “Pops” to still be part of it all.
A meaningful reminder of how one life can continue to impact so many others.
Pennsylvania Promoting SCA Awareness & Outdoor AEDs
Have you seen the purple wave across Pennsylvania?
February 19 marked Wear Purple Day, a day to honor young lives lost to sudden cardiac arrest, and a reminder that awareness needs to lead to action.
At Annville-Cleona Middle/High School, that action is already happening. Through the leadership of The Peyton Walker Foundation, three outdoor, climate-controlled AEDs are now installed near the track, tennis courts, and JV baseball field—accessible 24/7 where they’re needed most.
SaveHeart by HeartNation is proud to support this work alongside The Peyton Walker Foundation and Huddle for Hearts as more communities step forward to improve access and preparedness.
Here are links to two news reports to learn more:
Fox News Report
This is the kind of activity that makes kids know they matter, and that we’re here for them, doing the right thing. If you’d like to set something up like this for your school, let us know how we can help.
This is the Fox43 News report about this great “Wear Purple” day with The Peyton Walker Foundation
And this is ABC27’s report of the happenings at Annville-Cleona Middle School
Portage Indiana’s Founders Square is Protecting Hearts
Founders Square Park and Hannah’s Hope Playground are built for connection. It’s an inclusive space where families and children of all abilities from Porter County come together to play, relax, and enjoy time outdoors.
Now, it’s also a place that’s prepared.
A SaveHeart by HeartNation outdoor AED cabinet has been installed on-site. It’s visible, accessible, and available 24/7 if it’s ever needed.
We’d like to extend a continued and heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to the Zac Mago Foundation and Porter County Health, who are helping make Porter County Indiana a shining example of how to protect its community from sudden cardiac arrest.
SaveHeart Partners
Illinois Student Heart Screening Makes a Big Difference
More than 1,000 students were screened at last month’s Student Heart Screening at Geneva High School, and the impact was immediate.
A total of 1,088 youth were screened, with 8 potential issues identified.
This bi-annual event, sponsored by Tormod & Gry Larsen and the Kristoffer Larsen BIG HEART Memorial Foundation and Young Hearts for Life, has been making a difference since 2018. In that time, over 6,000 students have been screened, with 40 issues detected.
SaveHeart by HeartNation proudly attended Geneva’s last 2 screenings, and we’re excited to do it again at Niles North High School (IL) on April 23!
Celebrating Life: “The Beat Goes On” in Pennsylvania
We were honored to be a Heart Hero sponsor at last month’s Beat Goes On Luncheon with the Peyton Walker Foundation. It was a powerful event recognizing the people behind life-saving work, and the lives being impacted by it.
We connected with Carley Furlow of Huddle for Hearts, who is helping expand access to AEDs in central Pennsylvania parks using outdoor SaveHeart cabinets.
We were also able to spend time with Alicia, a young SCA survivor whose life was saved by an AED placed by the Foundation.
We’re grateful for the entire Peyton Walker Foundation team as they continue bringing heart screenings, CPR/AED training, and accessible AEDs to the communities that need them most.
Have You Heard the
SaveHeart Stories Podcast?
The SaveHeart Stories podcast tells real life stories from people affected by SCA, including those who have dedicated their lives to eliminating unnecessary SCA death. You can listen on SaveHeartStories.com, on our YouTube Channel or wherever you stream your favorite podcasts
SaveHeart Stories Episode #11
Mobilizing a Movement for AED Awareness:
A Conversation with Karen Sheets-Mobley and Trey Mobley
One minute you’re going about your routine. The next, everything changes.
In this episode of SaveHeart Stories, Dave Fritzsche talks with Trey Mobley and Karen Sheets-Mobley about Trey’s sudden cardiac arrest during a workout, and the chain of fast action, trained responders, and AED access that saved his life.
Now they’re working to expand AED access, raise awareness, and train others to be ready. This is their story.
You can listen to the SaveHeart Stories podcast here, and wherever you stream your favorite shows.
If you’re interested in being a guest on SaveHeart Stories, please contact us- we’d love to help you tell your story!
Thank you so much for your support.
Check out the Podcast page!
From the SaveHeart Stories Blog
What Can You Do?
If Youth Sports Safety Month has you thinking about the safety of your fields, courts, and gathering spaces, this is where to begin.
We’ve put together a practical guide on what it takes to get started, who to involve, and how to move from idea to real AED access where it matters most.
If you’ve ever looked around and wondered, “What would happen here?”, this is your next step.
Learn More About Protecting Against Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Your Community
Visit SaveHeart.Life for more information
Or email us at
SaveHeart by HeartNation
33 Locust Road, Winnetka, Illinois, 60093, United States