MOFFLY MEDIA
Elizabeth Ginns Britten
In the echo of a gymnasium, beneath the sound of bouncing basketballs and school announcements, a quiet but powerful revolution is underway: saving lives, one heartbeat at a time. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the No.1 killer of student-athletes in the U.S. and the leading cause of death on school campuses. It strikes without warning — often in children and teens who appear perfectly healthy. The scariest part? Most of these tragedies are preventable.
In Connecticut alone, more than 1,600 children are currently living with undiagnosed heart abnormalities — conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac death if left undetected. Enter In a Heartbeat, a nonprofit founded by Mike Papale, a SCA survivor and In a Heartbeat’s CEO who, along with fellow SCA survivor Caroline DeLasa, the foundation’s Resource Development and Marketing Manager, have made it their mission to change this. The duo has launched an ambitious, life-saving mission: a two-year plan to screen every middle and high school student in Connecticut for hidden heart conditions.
Their plan? Free youth heart screenings that include EKGs (electrocardiograms)— a simple, painless heart test that takes just a few minutes but could save a life. The results speak volumes: 52 children have been diagnosed with potentially life-threatening heart conditions through these screenings and five lives have been saved thanks to AEDs (automated external defibrillators) donated by the organization to schools and community facilities.
“We’re on a mission to make sure no family ever has to lose a child to something that could have been caught early,” says Papale. “We survived SCA. Now we’re here to protect the next generation.”
The Reality Behind the Risk
What many parents don’t realize is that standard sports physicals do not include cardiac screening. EKGs — which can detect 95% of heart abnormalities linked to SCA — are not routine, despite being highly effective.
That’s why these grassroots screenings, held in schools and community centers across the state, are so vital. They could be the difference between life and death.
At every event, students are given a quick EKG from medical professionals. If abnormalities are detected, families are referred to pediatric cardiologists for further evaluation. The screenings are free and often result in life-saving early diagnoses.
“We are not just raising awareness,” says Papale. “We are taking direct, life-saving action in communities all across Connecticut.”
The Challenge: It Takes a Community
While the screenings are free to families, they’re not free to run. Each event involves equipment, certified clinicians, coordination with schools and administrative costs. As the initiative grows, so does the need for financial support and strategic partnerships.
To accomplish its two-year goal of screening every Connecticut student, In A Heartbeat is seeking sponsors, donors and community champions.
Sponsorship opportunities include naming rights for screening events, logo placement on event signage and marketing materials, public recognition in press releases and social media, direct impact stories showing how your support helped save lives, and more. Whether you’re a local business, healthcare provider, parent group or philanthropic foundation, your support can truly make a difference.
“This is a solvable problem,” says DeLasa. “We have the tools. We have the team. Now we need the funding to reach every student.”
Be Part of the Solution
The ask is simple, says De Lasa: Help us screen. Help us save lives. Help us prevent tragedy.
Your support can directly save lives. You can help by inviting In a Heartbeat to your school, sports league or community group; you can share their mission and help them raise awareness about SCA. You can donate to sponsor screenings in your community, or partner as a corporate of healthcare sponsor. There’s a range of sponsorship opportunities ranging from $50 which covers the cost of one youth heart screening, to upwards of $5000, which sponsors a full community heart screening event. There are also corporate and healthcare sponsorships available.
