Young Hearts for Life

We remember Kelly Ballenger who died from Sudden Cardiac Death in 1992 at the age of 15.
“Our youngest daughter Kelly was 15 and so full of life in 1992. She had boundless energy and a "can do" attitude. Her smile and laugh were contagious and she was a good friend to so many. Kelly had a great freshman year at Glenbard West High School. She was on the forensics team, a thespian, on homecoming court, and had just made the dance squad at Glenbard West High School. That summer she left for Phantom Lake YMCA camp and was snorkeling when her heart went into an arrhythmia that took her life. Had ECG screening at her school been available at that time her undiagnosed heart condition would have been detected. A day doesn't go by without us missing her. We often wonder what our lives would have been like had she lived, but we also know she made them better even though we only had her for 15 years.”
Chris and Bob have turned their grief into action. Often you will see them at screenings and always willing to share their personal story in order to help get the message out. Our thoughts are with the Ballenger Family today.

The weather is looking amazing for Sunday's 5K Run/Walk. 😎
Don't delay, register today! Registration fee increases on race day.

https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Lisle/YH4L5KRunWalk2023

Race day is almost here! Check out the awesome raffle baskets. Raffle tickets are $10 and available for cash purchase at the run. Thank you to everyone who donated items for the raffles. ❤️

Thank you to our bronze sponsors for supporting this year's 5K Run/Walk and the YH4L program.
Don't forget to register for the event!
https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Lisle/YH4L5KRunWalk2023

Kristoffer Larsen was a vibrant 22 year old when he died unexpectedly on May 27, 2016 of undiagnosed Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. As an active young adult who excelled at cross country running and long distance track, Kristoffer had consistent check-ups and sports physicals but had never been diagnosed with a heart condition.

Kristoffer was known for his caring heart, especially towards his sibling, parents, and friends. Kristoffer always gave it his best no matter what he was doing, especially while he was running or working.

The Larsen family established The Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation to honor their beloved son and brother and preserve his spirit. YH4L is grateful for the foundation's support of YH4L cardiac screenings to help prevent other families from experiencing the devastation of suddenly losing a loved one. We send our prayers and care to the Kristoffer's family today and always.

Dan was 26 years old and full of life. His friends describe him as being a true friend, someone who would do anything to help others, and the life of the party.

11 years ago, Dan suffered sudden cardiac death, while at home with his parents. In an instant, this otherwise healthy and vibrant young man was gone, a result of undiagnosed cardiomyopathy.

Sue and Chuck Podczerwinski took a horrific situation and turned it into an opportunity to help others and save lives. They continue to work to prevent other families from suffering the same unimaginable loss by being actively involved with and supporting the YH4L screening program.

Please remember Dan’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers today.

Ever grateful to our Silver Sponsors! Thank you for your support of the Junior Board and this year's 5K Run/Walk.

Have YOU registered yet? Don't delay.
https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Lisle/YH4L5KRunWalk2023

Shout out to our Gold sponsors for their support of this year's YH4L 5K Run/Walk! ❤️

Race day is fast approaching. Register today!
https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Lisle/YH4L5KRunWalk2023

CPR and AED training is an essential for everyone! Thanks to Coach Karavolos' immediate action and implementation of CPR, Chloe is alive and has a full future ahead of her. Well done, Coach! 👏

York HS track coach Nicholas Karavolos uses CPR to save student Chloe Peot in cardiac arrest

Thank you to our amazing premier and platinum sponsors of this year's 5K Run/Walk on June 2nd ❤️
Register for this fun family event today!

https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Lisle/YH4L5KRunWalk2023

Spread the word! 📢
YH4L Junior Board's 5k Run/Walk is on Sunday, June 2nd!

Register today and help spread the word!
https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Lisle/YH4L5KRunWalk2023

Interested in donating to the event or YH4L? Go to https://yh4l.org/ and click on the donate button ❤️

The YH4L Junior Board has 70+ students from more than 19 area high schools. It provides service-oriented students the opportunity to learn about philanthropy and the promote the YH4L mission within the community. Funds from the run will be used to purchase an AED for a high school, support an ECG screening event at an underserved school, and assist in the purchase of new ECG machines for the program.

Another fantastic screening day, this time at Lemont High School. 75% of students (980) received a free, potentially life-saving ECG screening, and a handful of students were identified with previously unknown heart conditions. Numerous students expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to receive an ECG and education about the importance of ECG screening in young adults.

115 community volunteers chose to share their time and talent on screening day. Our thanks to them for truly being life-savers! Without their help, we could not have provided efficient and high-quality screenings to so many students, by 1 pm dismissal! Thank you to the school planning team, John Young, Deb Finnegan and Tony Hamilton, and parent coordinator, Kim Mardjetko, for all the time and effort put forth to ensure the screening was a success.

Our heartfelt appreciation to event sponsor, just1mike, for once again ensuring all Lemont HS students had the opportunity to receive this screening for free. YH4L is ever grateful to your commitment to the Lemont community and the YH4L program. ❤

2012 was the first YH4L event at Lemont HS due to the determination of Activities & Athletics Director, John Young. Since then, over 5,500 ECGs have been given and 49 LHS students have been identified. His advocacy and commitment to the screening program has made an indelible impact on the lives of thousands of students. Our best wishes to Mr. Young on his well-deserved retirement.

It's that time of the year! Get your running or walking shoes ready for the YH4L Junior Board's 5k Run/Walk on Sunday, June 2nd. 🏃‍♀️🏃

Register today and help spread the word!
https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Lisle/YH4L5KRunWalk2023

Interested in donating to the event or YH4L? Go to https://yh4l.org/ and click on the donate button ❤️

The YH4L Junior Board has 70+ students from more than 19 area high schools. It provides service-oriented students the opportunity to learn about philanthropy and the promote the YH4L mission within the community. Funds from the run will be used to purchase an AED for a high school, support an ECG screening event at an underserved school, and assist in the purchase of new ECG machines for the program.

So many happy hearts at Hinsdale Central High School! 1,657 students received a free ECG due to the generosity of the just1mike and Mend A Heart foundations; more than a dozen students were identified with previously unknown heart conditions.

Thank you to the 125 community volunteers who shared their day with us ensuring all Central students had the opportunity to be screened effectively and efficiently. Volunteers included parents, grandparents, and aunts/uncles, including some who traveled from out of state to help!

YH4L is extremely grateful to Kristy and Bob Brindley, Bridget and Brian O'Meara, Marla Mangone and Craig Hoffend who not only provided full sponsorship and the privacy drapes for the event but consistent support throughout the planning and ex*****on of the event. Shout to HCHS Wellness Chair Janelle Marconi and AP Ryan Maita for your commitment to a successful event. ❤

Kicking off April with a screening at Hinsdale South High School!
616 students received a free ECG screening due to the generosity of the just1mike and Mend A Heart foundations; multiple students were identified with previously undiagnosed cardiac conditions.
Thanks to the more than 80 community volunteers who chose to share their day with us. So many grateful hearts! ❤️

Happy Doctor's Day to our awesome docs! 🩺 YH4L thanks Dr. Frank Zimmerman and program founder, Dr. Joseph Marek, for their expertise, leadership, and compassion, and for volunteering week after week, year after year! Their passion and commitment ensures YH4L continues to evolve and thrive ❤

And yes, all doctors involved with the program are volunteers; sharing their time and talent with the communities we serve.

Happy, Healthy Hearts at Geneva High School! YH4L was excited to once again offer all Geneva students a free, potentially life-saving ECG screening. Due to the generosity of the Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Foundation, 1,021 students were screened and more than a handful identified with a previously unknown cardiac conditions.
Thank you to the 131 community members that volunteered at the screening. An incredible group of people came from all areas of Chicagoland to support the screening, ensuring students were screened effectively and efficiently!
YH4L is grateful to Principal Rogers and Gry and Tormod Larsen for their ongoing commitment to the YH4L program at Geneva HS, and all of the time and effort put forth to make the screening a success! ❤

ECG screening: Simple, fast and can save a life.

Young Hearts for Life has performed over 315,000 ECGs and has identified more than 3,300 young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac conditions. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is one of the conditions identified by an Electrocardiogram (ECG) screening.

WPW is a heart condition in which there is an extra electrical pathway (circuit) in the heart. The condition can lead to episodes of rapid heart rate (tachycardia). WPW is one of the most common causes of fast heart rate disorders in infants and children.
Normally, electrical signals in the heart go through a pathway that helps the heart beat regularly. The wiring of the heart prevents extra beats from occurring and keeps the next beat from happening too soon. In people with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, there is an extra, or accessory, pathway that may cause a very rapid heart rate. This is called supraventricular tachycardia.

An ECG is a quick, noninvasive test used to evaluate the heart. Electrodes (we call them stickies) are placed on the chest, wrists and ankles. Lead wires are then connected to the stickies. The electrical activity of the heart is then measured, interpreted, and printed out. No electricity is sent into the body. The ECG printout is then read and interpreted by a Cardiologist.