The fall season is always packed with fun, unforgettable races for the community to take part in, but it’s special when people get to race for an important cause. On Saturday, October 29, the 4th annual Bolt for the Heart Hallowrun, sponsored by Franciscan Health, was held. People from all over the Region, and even people outside of it, came out to have some fun, all while helping local law enforcement get the equipment they need to save countless lives.
“It’s fun to hold a race and have people come out and get excited. There’s fun music going while everyone’s warming up, and everyone knows they’re out here making a difference. 100% of the registration dollars go to buying AEDs, and it’s just a neat thing to see,” said Pierre Twer, Bolt for the Heart President.
The turnout for the event was amazing--over 200 people participated in the 5k and 10k. Some people even got into the Halloween spirit and raced in their favorite costumes. The fact that so many people came out to support such an important cause is truly heartwarming.
“It’s unbelievable the support that we get from the community. It truly is a partnership. We are blessed in La Porte County because we have the support of the public, and law enforcement is only as good as the partnership and trust that they have with the public,” said John Boyd, La Porte County Sheriff.
Cardiac arrest is something that can happen to anyone at any time. That’s why police officers need to have the proper equipment in each of their vehicles so they can save lives.
“In a county as big as La Porte--we’re the second largest county geographically in the state--it’s not uncommon for us to have a 15 to 20-minute lead on an ambulance, and when someone goes into cardiac arrest every second, and minute counts. It’s really important that we have the right equipment to help us save lives,” said Boyd.
The Bolt for the Heart race and the all money it raised is another step in the right direction in getting police officers the tools they need. The goal is to keep raising money to not only get AEDS in each police vehicle but also cover the costs of repairing and updating the equipment in the future.
“Our department already has a documented save. So, it’s really important. It’s a tool I hope we never have to use, but if we need it it’s there, and you never know, the life you save may be your own,” said Paul Brettin, La Porte Chief of Police.
The impact people made by participating in the event is unfathomable. Of course, this heartwarming event wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of the community.
“I’d like to thank all of our sponsors: Franciscan Health, Acme Communications, Peepers, Horizon Bank, and Play for Jake. Of course, I’d also like to thank all the volunteers that we have and all the awesome people who came out this morning,” said Twer.
Twer encourages everyone, whether they’re first responders or not, to learn more about the importance of AEDs. You never know when something might happen, and awareness is the first step in saving a life.
“When you’re in a building or you’re outside, just look to see where the AED is because they’re really easy to use, and you never know when you might need to use one. They all have instructions--so, don’t be intimidated by it,” said Twer.
To learn more about Franciscan Health and its mission to help law enforcement receive the equipment they need to save lives, visit https://www.franciscanhealth.org/.
