Sadly, Tennessee’s star wide receiver Bru McCoy suffered a season-ending injury in Saturday’s game, but that isn’t sidelining his Huddle For Hearts™ life-saving mission.
In a campaign called “Touchdowns for AEDs,” Huddle for Hearts™ partnered with The Peyton Walker Foundation, ZOLL Medical, Rescue One, Master Medical Equipment, and a growing list of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) providers to each donate an AED every time Bru scored a touchdown this year.
To comply with NIL regulations, The Peyton Walker Foundation and the McCoy Family are in discussions with Tennessee regarding making changes to Bru’s current campaign to ensure that AEDs will still be donated this season to under-served and high-need youth sports organizations. Updated details will be announced soon.
On behalf of The Peyton Walker Foundation and the McCoy Family, Tennessee fans and others across the nation are being drafted to RALLY FOR BRU by donating to his initiative at www.HuddleForHearts.org. Proceeds will fund the purchase and donation of additional AEDs to save lives in Bru’s honor.
Huddle for Hearts™ is a life-saving initiative created by Bru McCoy in partnership with The Peyton Walker Foundation, a non-profit based out of Camp Hill, PA whose mission is to increase awareness and survival rates for Sudden Cardiac Arrest. “We were devastated to witness Bru’s season-ending injury and our focus remains on his recovery and care. We are overwhelmed by the immediate response from fans and the media who are asking how they can help keep Huddle for Hearts™ going strong,” says Julie Walker, executive director (and Peyton’s mom) of The Peyton Walker Foundation and Huddle for Hearts™. “Tennessee fans watched as Bru used his passion, platform and talent to score AEDs for his community. With all of us teaming up to Rally For Bru while he is off the field, we can still fund and distribute AEDs where they’re needed the most to save lives.”
“We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to check in on Bru and sent thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement. While we are heartbroken this happened, we hope to continue his mission with Huddle for Hearts™ and providing CPR training and AEDs to under-served communities,” said Bru’s mom, Shelby McCoy. Bru’s dad, Horace McCoy, states, “Everyone is asking us how they can help – supporting Bru’s mission is a great way to Rally for Bru! Let’s show him some love and get him through this.”
Among his responsibilities as a student and member of the Tennessee football team, Bru is laser-focused on making Sudden Cardiac Arrest prevention, awareness and treatment a TOP priority. His goal is to provide AEDs to youth sports organizations, while encouraging other athletes and fans across the country to join with him and become involved in Huddle for Hearts™ to help save lives.
Earlier in the season Bru said, “I’m really just inspired to give back to my local community. And what better way to give back than by giving away life-saving tools and devices. Following the on-field collapse of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), the significance of CPR and AEDs became even more evident to me. With SCA being the #1 killer of student-athletes in the U.S., it is imperative that AEDs and CPR and AED training are provided for youth sports, not just in Knoxville but everywhere.”
Over the summer, Bru McCoy and Huddle for Hearts™ donated two AEDs to NewBreed Youth Sports Inc., a youth sports program in Knoxville, TN. NewBreed is dedicated to improving skills, building character, and supporting the overall physical and mental development of young athletes. Along with this donation, Bru helped train local players, coaches, and parents on CPR and AED rescue skills.
Bru McCoy and Huddle for Hearts™ invite you to join us on our journey to equip underserved communities with life-saving AEDs that have proven time and time again, how vital they are to survival rates. Through Touchdowns for AEDs, Bru is raising AED donations from partner organizations to be placed in local youth athletic programs. Bru and all of us invite other collegiate athletes to join his initiative. We also want to invite donors, sponsors, individuals, and coaches to get involved, help raise awareness, follow along, or contribute to the cause. Learn more about Sudden Cardiac Arrest, apply to join as an organization or athlete, follow our journey, or donate online at www.HuddleForHearts.org.
ABOUT THE PEYTON WALKER FOUNDATION:
Peyton Walker was a 19-year-old Mechanicsburg native, 2012 Trinity High School graduate, and a sophomore at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania who was pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant, when she suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) that took her young and vibrant life on November 2, 2013. Afterwards, her family started researching Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and discovered children are dying every day from undiagnosed heart issues. THE PEYTON WALKER FOUNDATION was established in honor of Peyton’s memory and her dreams of working in the medical profession to help and care for others. The Foundation’s mission is to increase awareness and survival rates of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) through education, screening and training. Events, screenings and important updates can be found at www.PeytonWalker.org. The Foundation has received national, state and local recognition for their lifesaving work.
To date, they are proud to have donated over 500 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), screened over 4,500 students with 410 children referred to physicians leading to potential life-saving medical attention for many. Over 150,000 adults and children have been educated about Sudden Cardiac Arrest through program participation. The Foundation also has provided over $100,000 in educational scholarships and hundreds of other FREE community CPR and AED Trainings.
The Peyton Walker Foundation, under the leadership of Walker, has worked with UPMC Pinnacle, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Duke University, Penn State Children’s Hospital, WellSpan, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Geisinger Health, PIAA, Big 33, PA Scholastic Football Coaches Association and other agencies and businesses in an effort to save young lives. Advocates, parents and medical professionals recognize that more can be done to protect student athletes to reduce the occurrence of SCA in our children. Follow The Peyton Walker Foundation on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
FACTS ABOUT SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST:
- SCA is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. (over 350,000 annually).
- SCA is the #1 killer of student athletes in the U.S.
- Every hour, every day, a student dies from SCA. The majority of those deaths are attributed to detectable and treatable heart conditions that went undiagnosed due to the limited scope of standard sports physicals and well-child check-ups.
- Some warning symptoms that can lead to SCA include dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, and passing out. The first symptom of SCA is often sudden death. However, the use of AEDs and CPR increases the chances of surviving an SCA event.