Play for Jake Foundation
Written by Julie West, Founder, Play for Jake Foundation
The Play For Jake Foundation was founded in 2013 after the loss of my 17-year-old son, Jake West. Jake suffered Sudden Cardiac Arrest on his high school football field during practice one day, leading us to ultimately discover an undetected heart condition. There was no warning that something fatal was impacting Jake.
In the wake of our tragedy, I channeled my grief into founding an organization that would ensure no other family would have to endure the pain that my family goes through every single day. The Play For Jake Foundation is dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest in youth, as well as raising funds and awareness around the importance of early detection and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
Tell us about yourself.
I am founder of The Play For Jake Foundation, a former physical education teacher for 25 years, and a Northwest Indiana native. As a LaPorte City Council member, I strive to find viable solutions for issues impacting our city's residents and businesses. I enjoy visits to Lake Michigan to search for beach glass, spending time with my two beagles, and connecting with my friends and family.
What do you want everyone to know about your event/accomplishment?
The risk is real. The solution is simple. 1 in 300 youth has an undetected heart condition. We often feel a false sense of security when considering statistics, thinking things like 'that could never happen to me or my child'. However, it can happen to any of us at any time, which is why being educated and prepared is so important.
Speaking of preparedness, you can support the placement of AEDs in LaPorte County first responder vehicles at the Play For Jake Family 5K & 10K Walk/Run on Saturday October 14 with Bolt for the Heart. This is a great opportunity to connect with your family, friends, and neighbors for an active morning while raising funds for these life-saving devices. You can learn more here.
Why did you start your business? What drives you?
Preventing other families from experiencing such an unnecessary and life-altering loss is what drives me every single day. Jake had a larger-than-life personality and I know he would be making an impact wherever he might be ten years later. The Play For Jake Foundation saves lives and raises awareness, but it also continues Jake's legacy forward through this important work.
What is your favorite project that you've worked on? What did you learn? Why was it your favorite?
Being able to advocate at the state level for life-saving legislation has been incredibly rewarding. Earlier this year, we successfully advised the passage of House Bill 369 - also known as Jake's Law. It was definitely a process working with legislators which included a variety of emotions to get it passed. More work needs to be done and we will keep working until the lives of our children are top priority in all schools.
Jake's Law creates safer school environments, requiring all K-12 schools to properly maintain an AED, ensure its presence at every athletic event, and develop a viable emergency response plan for sudden cardiac arrests throughout schools and athletic spaces.
Legislation like Jake's Law likely would've saved Jake's life. And while it is devastating that we weren't afforded that chance of survival for Jake, it is healing to know that other lives will be saved as a result of this Law.
What's the dream? What's the end game?
My dream is that no other parent would know the pain of losing a child. I will continue to do everything I can to address the preventable loss as a result of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and undetected heart conditions.
More, I hope I can bolster this work through the continued community partnerships that have expanded our reach, thus far. From our annual golf outing to brewing Jake's Beer with Burn'em Brewing and collaborating with The Collective, it's been a blessing to join together with such great minds to save lives through the prevention and education of undetected heart conditions.
What has been the biggest challenge running your business? How are you overcoming the challenge?
The biggest hurdle I face as founder of The Play For Jake Foundation is the lack of time and resources when approaching such a critical issue. As a one-person team, I have to often remind myself that there are only so many hours in the day and every factor of this work is rooted in a traumatic loss for me. I have to find time for my healing in conjunction with advancing our mission to save lives.
