Lapeer East Athletic Director Sharon Miller presented a check for $2,200 to representatives of the Wes Leonard Heart Foundation this afternoon during the school’s winter sports assembly.

The reception given to the family and friends of Wes Leonard who visited East was truly remarkable. You could hear a pin drop in the gym as they tried hold back tears while expressing to students their gratitude for the donation.

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.

The funds raised from a pair of “Never Forgotten” fundraisers 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.

Thank you to the Wes Leonard Heart Team for making a difference in the lives of students. We salute you!