May 05, 2008 –BARRIE, Ontario–The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Restart a Heart, Restart a Life AED Program and the Heart and Stroke Chase McEachern Tribute Fund have reached a significant milestone. The foundation announced Friday 2,000 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been allocated to municipalities across Ontario.
The original goal was to allocate 1,000 in five years, but the foundation surpassed its goal by 100 per cent in just two years. Rocco Rossi, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, said it showed people are working to make Chase McEachern’s dream a reality.
“Today is fantastic, and truly is a testament to the power of dreams to overcome any obstacle, and the power of dreams to overcome even death. In particular, the power of a dream of one special young boy,” he said.
After being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, Chase McEachern started a campaign to make defibrillators mandatory in public places. Before his campaign really got underway, Chase collapsed during gym class and later passed away. Since his death, Chase’s family, in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, has continued the crusade to bring defibrillators to public places.
Rossi said the Heart and Stroke Foundation and its partners are working hard to ensure defibrillators are as common as fire extinguishers, just like Chase wanted.
John McEachern, Chase’s father, said it takes a team to make Chase’s dreams come true. “It’s a team effort all through Ontario to make the AEDs up front, bring the awareness, bring the education to the people,” he said. “There are so many people involved in this project … I just want to say thanks to everyone.”
In the past two years, Chase McEachern’s dream has saved the lives of eight people in Ontario.
-Barrie Advance