Living for Zachary - One Year Later

Living for Zachary is elated that June is the one year anniversary of the beginning of the Living for Zachary organization.

We sure have come along way during this past year and are so thankful to all that have helped Living for Zachary become all it has become.

Living for Zachary was formed by Karen Schrah after losing her 16 year old son to SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest). On April 2, 2009, the world lost a true gift when Zachary Schrah died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) just after a typical workout with the Plano East Panther Football Team. Zac was the picture of health...a varsity football player with no personal or family history of heart disease. There were no warning signs. He simply collapsed and died. So, with the devastating death of Zachary, Karen Schrah decided to start Living for Zachary, a non-fit organization that believes in raising awareness and the prevention of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in our youth.

During the past year, Living for Zachary has had huge milestones, so many we cannot even begin to list them all:

We had our very first major fundraiser The Living for Zachary 5K Run/Walk October 24th,2009 at Southfork Ranch in Parker,Texas. The event was hosted by Mike Doocy, Fox 4 News Sports Anchor. Other activities during the day’s events included THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano video debut and guest speaker, a presentation by HeartSafe America, Inc., a live auction with auctioneer Gary D. Pennycuff, a silent auction, door prizes, awards, buffet brunch, shopping at vendor booths in the Southfork atrium, bounce houses, and music by Emerald City. To see wonderful memories of the day visit the Living for Zachary Video Gallery.

Living for Zachary has a official Living for Zachary Facebook fan page and Living for Zachary Twitter page! We have over 1,000 friends on Facebook and thrilled about more to come. Spread the word!

"Zac's Team" was formed which consists of Sarah Schrah, Rachael Cochran, Hunter Burkhalter, and Andrew Cochran. Zac’s Team is made up of his sister Sarah, dear friends and other young people that want to help in the mission of Living for Zachary. This team meets monthly to discuss the Living for Zachary mission, and use Facebook as a communication tool. They will inform of the dangers of SCA through activities, programs and fundraising opportunities. Zac's Team participates in many activities and events to spread Zac's story and to sell wristbands and distribute information on SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest).

We got a great new Living for Zachary website!

THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano joined in the SCA Awareness and Living for Zachary mission by offering cardiac screenings for youth ages 13–22 at a discounted rate of only $100. Offered on Saturdays from 12–5 p.m. at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano, the cardiac screenings include a 12-lead ECG (electrocardiography) and a limited 2-D echocardiogram.

Zachary Schrah's Football number was retired #64

Living for Zachary was present at the new Dallas Cowboy's Stadium with the L4Z logo on the biggest screen in the world!

The Plano East Hockey Team honored Zachary with his initials on their helmet and the Plano East Panther Football Team did the same by showing respect with the Living for Zachary logo on their football helmets.

In January 2010 after the horrible devastation in Haiti, Living for Zachary pitched in by donating a AED and sending L4Z t-shirts!

Living for Zachary has a complete line of L4Z Wear that is available for purchase online

THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano had a wonderful dinner honoring Zachary Schrah's Birthday on February 10, 2010. This was community outreach event, but many of our volunteers were also on hand. There was a breathtaking ice sculpture with Zachary's retired jersey number, and a football and helmet at the base.

We will be hosting the first annual Living for Zachary Golf Tournament on June 21, 2010 at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, TX. For more information on the L4Z Golf Tournament, please visit our website for golf registration.

We have many great events planned for the upcoming year ~ a L4Z Bass tournament at Lake Fork in Sept 2010, 2nd annual 8M/5K Fun Run in October and in February the first annual 2011 "Remembering Zachary" Red-Tie Gala. To find out updated information and details about these events visit our upcoming events page on the L4z website.

Thank you to all who have joined in this great effort and made Living for Zachary something that Zachary would be proud of.

Living for Zachary hopes to demonstrate the ideal Zachary described in an essay not long before he died ~

"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out."