South Lake Multisport Events Presented An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) To the City of Clermont
SLME president Kimberly Grogan, Fire Marshal William Harrison and city's first responders.
Submitted by Kevin Grogan
On Saturday, October 14, South Lake Multisport Events (SLME), a local 501(c)3, presented their donation of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) unit to the City of Clermont. Clermont Fire Marshal William Harrison and representatives of the fire department were present to accept the AED Fire Marshal Harrison said he was impressed that the unit was purchased to be compatible with the city’s current machines, and thankful for another accessible life saving unit in the city.
The AED is located on the east side of the main building at Lake Hiawatha Park on 12th Street. The location is ideal, because it will be accessible to all parkgoer who might be playing frisbee golf, visiting the dog park or playground or exercising on the trail. Security cameras are also trained on the unit for safekeeping.
The need for the AED was recognized by SLME president, Kimberly Grogan. She is also a volunteer co-event director for parkrun Clermont, a free weekly 5k (http://www.parkrun.us/clermontwaterfront/) that takes place at Lake Hiawatha park. There are over 100 runners and walkers at Clermont parkrun’s weekly event, and although there hasn’t been a need for an AED, one runner had a heart attack soon after he got home from parkrun one week. He made it to the South Lake Hospital in time and is back running, but his heart attack meant that the donation of the AED, which was already in motion, couldn’t come soon enough.
The funds for the AED were generated by SLME’s partnership with a few local businesses to produce 5 short distance triathlons at Lake Louisa State Park, March through July 2018. Gear for Multisport and Trek Clermont helped to host the volunteer produced events that grew each month. One of the reasons for the growth was the delicious barbeque that was so generously donated by Oakwood Smokehouse, which fed all the participants and volunteers.
South Lake Multisport Events is a newly formed not for profit whose purpose is to support the needs of the endurance community in South Lake County. Most of its funds will be generated through hosting endurance events and will partner with local businesses to create these high quality races with a strong community feel. If you would like to partner with them in any of their upcoming events please email Kimberly Grogan at rdsouthlakeevents@gmail.com
