How does a SADS condition impact you? Please tell us about your own personal experience or how it has impacted someone you are close to.
I have long qt syndrome and vasodepressor syncope, i was diagnosed at age 11, i am now 25 years old. My mother, my 2 brothers, and my sister, all also have heart conditions.

Why do you volunteer for the SADS Foundation?
I volunteer because it is something that impacted my life so greatly and i know that it was a shock for me, so it must be for other people. I want to find ways to help those people, even if it is only something minor that i do, because i hope they will appreciate it and help others as well.

Please tell us a little about what kind of volunteer activities you do for the SADS Foundation. (i.e. participation in SADS awareness campaigns, responding to advocacy action alerts, attending/organizing SADS events in your community, etc.)
When I was 13 I raised money by walking door to door in my neighborhood collecting money to buy an a.e.d. for my school since it wasn't in the budget at the time. I was successful in raising enough money for the school to cover the rest of the cost for it. Since then my family has fought to get at least one a.e.d. in every school in our school district, and i am happy to say that it worked and we raised awareness of SADS in our township.

What is your favorite part about volunteering for the SADS Foundation?
It makes me feel good contributing in anyway. I feel that even though it might not have been a major contribution, it was something, and hopefully that got other people to help in anyway they could as well.

Do you have any advice or final thoughts for others who might be interested in getting more involved with the SADS Foundation?
Please do it. Even if you dont have medical issues, this is a real danger to people. I have had friends pass away from this, and they were healthy people, with absolutely no health issues. That is why there is an S at the beginning of SADS. Any little bit can go a far way. Just take even a few minutes of your time to help. If you were in this position, you would want help, so why not help the ones that need it?

Do you have any additional comments?
I really hope the message is getting out there and people are contributing. It is a great cause, and your foundation has helped my family greatly over the years. Thank you!