Lapeer East and West high schools are teaming up to support one of the state’s finest charitable organizations, The Wes Leonard Heart Foundation. The Foundation was established to honor the memory of the former star athlete at Fennville High School in west Michigan, who collapsed shortly after making a game-winning shot in a playoff game in 2011.

The Foundation uses a team approach to raising awareness and supporting early detection and prevention methods aimed at curbing sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes like Wes.

Two “Never Forgotten” fundraisers will be held at the East versus West basketball games on December 14th and February 1st. The funds will help support the Wes Leonard Heart Team’s effort to distribute free Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

In August, the Heart Team came to Lapeer to train the District’s coaches in the use of AEDs. They also donated three of the devices for use in our buildings. This is our way of giving back to a great cause.