Doing good things this holiday season

Everyone starts out the Holiday season wanting to "do good things" - you may want to donate some items to the needy, you may want the family to serve food at the Soup Kitchen or you may just donate money - all wonderful things, no doubt. There are many ways to "give back" this holiday season, you just have to look around.

Living for Zachary is holding their HeartBeats Gala on February 19th, 2011 - please mark your calender and attend for a beautiful and touching even benefiting the life of Zachary Schrah and aiding awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Most all of us send out holiday cards in the mail - instead of buying them at a discount store why not get them from the Parent Heart Watch site - a site that helps protect our children from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and helps raise awareness for SCA. You can visit the PHW Site and view the Holiday Cards online - there are many different designs to choose from, all very special. Each card has been created by a person that is no longer with us due to SCA, or a person that has survived SCA.

If you are wanting to do good things this Holiday Season, please think about donating to LivingforZachary.org or buying a holiday card from the Parent Heart Watch Organization.
There is a beautiful poem written by Mary Newman called "Legacy of the Lost"- dedicated to the families of Parent Heart that is so warm and touching, maybe it will touch you this holiday season and jump start your heart to help raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Heart Screening!

Stories that tug at your heart-both want you to save a life today.

It's not easy to talk about people dying, but bottom line, it's life and learning to go on and knowing it's purpose is what is the most important thing.

We have been writing on Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and Heart Screening in Youth, Heart defects and knowing the difference between Heart Attacks and Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) for about a year now. We have celebrated Zachary Schrah's life, we have enjoyed the gifts that he brought to us, and we have moved forward with the Living for Zachary Foundation and it all has been rewarding however- it's OK sometimes to change gears for just a moment.

The heartbeat is such a power thing. Seeing the story of Taylor Storch this week has brought something else to the forefront as well. Not only is it important to have your child's heart screened, it's important to share the gift of life if you must. Hearing the heartbeat of your child in another person's body must be the most powerful thing, having your child's heart beat for the last time and moment has got to be the most hurtful thing a parent can go through.

For the Storch family and for Karen Schrah - the common denominator is that both families lost a beloved child and something good has to come from it - so foundations/organizations were formed to bring awareness to their causes.

For organ donation you can visit Taylor Storch's website; Taylor's Gift Foundation, you can read more about Taylor and learn about how to become a organ donor.

For upcoming events like our HeartBeats Gala; visit the Living for Zachary website. Taylor saved 5 lives and Living for Zachary will continue to try and save life's by asking parent's to listen to your heart in a different way and get your child's heart screened.

Two families with a common loss wanting to save lives ...be a Hero today and save a life-be an organ donor and have your heart screened. Both will make a difference.

Save the Date for the HeartBeats Gala!

SAVE THE DATE!

Living for Zachary has begun preparations for the HeartBeats Gala 2011 honoring Zachary Schrah and helping raise awareness for Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Save the Date for the
Living for Zachary
HeartBeats Gala 2011

Where:
Marriott Legacy
7120 Dallas Parkway
Plano, Texas 75024

When:
Saturday, February 19, 2011

7:00PM-midnight

Enjoy a night of dancing, food and remembrance of Zachary Schrah at the Marriott Legacy Hotel on February 19, 2011.

Please visit the Living for Zachary website for additional information - to purchase tickets, to become a sponsor etc.

Also, please visit the Living for Zachary Facebook fan and sign up for the newsletter to receive our latest updates on Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Living For Zachary Heart Run

What a great day Saturday was! The rain held off and many runners came out to support Living for Zachary and to raise awareness for Sudden Cardiac Arrest!

We made a big difference on Sat, October 23, 2010 as more than 900 runners and over 200 volunteers showed up to run the 2nd Annual 5k/10k/1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run.

Your Sporting Image took pictures and you can see additional pictures by searching for your bib number or last name at: yoursportingimage.com.

Landon Shea was the winner of the 500.00 for the largest team - he brought a team of 68!

You can find a slideshow full of pictures from the event by going to the Z Gallery on the Living4Zachary website.



Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this day a wonderful success and a special thank you to our sponsors:

• THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano
• Dr.Pepper/Snapple
• Crest Cadillac
• Baylor Regional Medical Center at Frisco
• Sherwin Williams
• 97.5 KLAK
• Plano West Quarterback Club
• Medical Cost Remedy, Inc.
• Michael Johnson Performance Center
• Muddle Management
• On the Border
• Total Best Group
• College Hunks Hauling Junk
• Fox Sports Grill
• Gold's Gym
• TLC Carpet Cleaning & TNT Painting
• Tom Thumb
• Your Sporting Image Photography

Zachary would be so proud!

SO many reat things are happening at Living for Zachary! We are literally days away from the 2nd Annual 5k /10k /1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run at The Shops at Legacy
Plano, TX.

The Heart Run will be Saturday, October 23, 2010 and Race Day activities begin at 7am - 1M at 8AM and 5K/10K at 8:30AM.


Directions to the 2nd Annual 5k /10k /1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run are below:


View Larger Map


You may register from October 20-22, 2010, Wed-Fri 10:00 am to 7 pm at Luke’s Locker at The Shops at Legacy - 5717 Legacy Road Suite 180 Plano, TX 75024 or register the day of the Run at The Shops at Legacy at 7am.

*$500.00 CASH AWARD will be given to the largest team or group to participate and trophies will be awarded to Overall Masters winner & Top male/female winner in 5K and 10K. Medals will be awarded to top 3 Male/Female finishers in each age group in 5k and 10K. Race awards in 5-year increments.

We will have a large Silent Auction with some of the following items:

• Avalon Spa Gift Basket
• New Membership Initiation for Gleneagles Country Club
• Gift certificate for a weekend use of a Cadillac or an Infiniti and dinner for 2 at Chamberlains
• 1 room for Fri/ or Sat night at the Marriott Plano
• Gold's Gym
• Starbucks
• Sigel's Fine Wine
• Another Time and Place
• Sea Breeze Fish Market and Grill and more......

Please make plans to attend and enjoy and support one of Living for Zachary's BIGGEST EVENTS to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest!

Also .. BIG NEWS - Zachary made it to UT! Zachary is mentioned in UT's Daily Texan Newspaper as Marc Nestenius - a sophomore at the University of Texas mentions what he went through with his heart defect. He underwent surgery 3 years ago at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas and was given a new lease on life. Marc will be at the Living for Zachary Heart Run this weekend with his family and Living for Zachary is so happy to have Marc coming and yes, he IS one of the lucky ones. Cannot wait to meet you Marc and Happy Early Birthday!

Now.. let's go Run for Zachary!

10 days left until the 2nd Annual 5k /10k /1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run!

10 days left until the 2nd Annual 5k /10k /1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run!

The 2nd Annual 5k /10k /1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run will be held this year on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at The Shops at Legacy in Plano, TX.

Living for Zachary is so excited about our 2nd Heart Run and in addition to a great and fantastic run - Living for Zachary has many fun things in store for this worthwhile day;

• Prizes
• Vendor Booths
• Silent auction
• Music by Emerald City and Jaci Butler and Those Guys
• Bounce Houses
• Face Painting

Race Day Details:
Race Day Opens at 7am

1M - 8AM
5K/10K - 8:30AM

To register for the Living for Zachary Heart Run you can click on the Living for Zachary Heart Run registration link - through RunFar Racing Services - you can register and pay all online!

Additional Registration Information-

In-store registration and packet pick-up at the following locations:
October 18, 2010 10am – 6pm
Crest Cadillac - 2701 N Central Expressway, Plano

October 19, 2010 10am – 6pm
Crest Infiniti - 2701 N Central Expressway, Plano

October 20-22, 2010 11am – 2pm and 5 – 7pm
Luke’s Locker located at The Shops at Legacy 5717 Legacy Road Suite 180 Plano, TX 75024

Same day Registration at:
The Shops at Legacy -7am

We will give $500.00 cash award to largest team or group to participate and trophies will be awarded to Overall Masters winner & Top male/female winner in 5K and 10K. Medals will also be awarded to top 3 Male/Female finishers in each age group in 5k and 10K. Race awards in are in 5-year increments.

We have many Living for Zachary Heart Run Sponsorship Opportunities still available and need your help! Please download the form below for Sponsorship Information: 2nd Annual 5k /10k /1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run Sponsorship Form
You can print out the sponsorship form and mail to:

Living for Zachary
P.O. Box 867671
Plano, TX 75086-7671

You may also fax to: 972-248-4150 or email to : Tonya Shrum at: tonya@living4zachary.org

We are proud to have Living for Zachary supporters such as:

Premier Sponsor:
THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano

Platinum Sponsor:
Dr.Pepper/Snapple

Gold Sponsors:
Crest Cadillac
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Frisco

Silver Sponsors:
Sherwin Williams
97.5 KLAK
Plano West Quarterback Club

Bronze Sponsors:
Medical Cost Remedy, Inc.
Michael Johnson Performance Center
Muddle Management
On the Border
Total Best Group

Race Day Sponsors:
College Hunks Hauling Junk
Fox Sports Grill
Gold's Gym
TLC Carpet Cleaning & TNT Painting
Tom Thumb
Your Sporting Image Photography

There isn't much time to pre-register for the 2nd Annual 5k /10k /1 Mile Living For Zachary Heart Run!

Help raise awareness for Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Youth and Young Athletes by supporting Living for Zachary! Let your Heart be Heard and run for your life and the lives of others!

View our slideshow of last's years Fun Run!

Don't be a Bystander - be a Lifesaver

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation will celebrate the annual awards reception; "Won’t You Be My Neighbor?...Won’t You Learn How to Save a Life"? which will take place today October 7th, 5:30-7:30 PM, at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event will celebrate the survivors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and the neighborly rescuers whose quick and courageous actions made the difference between life and death.

As a special bonus Mr. David Newell (Mr. McFeeley from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood) will make a guest appearance, and talk about the need for quick responses of CPR and every neighbor’s role in using Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) when SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) occurs.

The moral of this story and event is know CPR and know how to respond if Sudden Cardiac Arrest should strike around you. Will you know what to do or how to respond if someone should collapse around you?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies. You can use CPR during a heart attack, near drowning or at a time that someone has stopped breathing or their heartbeat has ceased to beat. CPR involves two parts: chest compressions combined with mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing.

When performing CPR remember the ABC's:

• Airway: Clear the airway
• Breathing: Breathe for the person
• Circulation: Restore blood circulation with chest compressions

When learning CPR - make sure that you learn from a accredited organization like the American Red Cross or American Heart Association or find a CPR Trained Instructor in your area.
The Living for Zachary Foundation asks you to be a Lifesaver not a Bystander and make a difference in saving a life.

If you would like to be a part of making people aware of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in our young people; please attend one of our Living for Zachary's upcoming events or just DONATE to Living for Zachary; and be a good neighbor.