Indiana nonprofit Bolt for the Heart is raising money for police car automatic external defibrillators through a virtual race open to anyone.
Last year, Indiana State Police paired with BFTH to promote the nonprofit’s Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk in Carmel to raise money to get AEDs into state police cars. An AED is used in cases of sudden cardiac arrest to restart a person’s heart. According to BFTH’s website, sudden cardiac arrest kills 335,000 people each year. Ninety-five percent of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest die because defibrillation and CPR occur too late.
Last year’s 5K generated enough money to outfit 55 cars. The cars with AEDs patrol the state’s more rural counties. The Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk will still take place in Carmel this year, but the nonprofit is also promoting a virtual 5K where participants walk or run on their own time at any place. The entry fee is $20 and those who are not interested in running or walking are encouraged to use the site to make a donation.
Virtual racing began Tuesday and will continue until the end of December. All proceeds will go to outfitting more ISP cars with AEDs. For more information or to make a donation, visit boltfortheheart.com/events/carmel-5k-runwalk.
Lyndsay Jones
