Fishing tournament raises $29,000

BUFFALO, Minn. 10/03/2007--The Buffalo Hospital Foundation Fishing Tournament raised more than $29,000 on September 22. The funds will be used to upgrade 80 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in local law enforcement squads to meet the recently updated American Heart Association (AHA) CPR guidelines. "Our local law enforcement are saving lives with the AEDs in their squad cars,” says Kelly Lewis, NREMT, Heart Safe Communities coordinator. "We’ve saved four lives in the last five months alone. While the current defibrillators that were placed by the Heart Safe Communities program in 1999 are still effective, we want to ensure we’re providing the very latest in technology and treatment," continued Lewis Since law enforcement officers are often the first to arrive in an emergency, it is imperative they have squad car AEDs that meet the latest AHA guidelines.

"'With the addition of the funds raised at the tournament, we’ve reached 55 percent of our total fundraising goal of $80,000 to upgrade all squad car AEDs throughout the county," said Julie Larcom, development associate, Buffalo Hospital Foundation. "Many thanks to all our sponsors, including our presenting sponsors of EPPA Emergency Specialists and Metropolitan Cardiology Consultants, along with the Maple Lake Jazz Band for providing the entertainment, Cub Foods of Buffalo for the complimentary lunch and our tournament planning committee members Joyce Dehmer, Karla Heeter, Sgt. Eric Leander, Jory Louisiana, Kelly Lewis, Holly Minke, Wayne Nelson, Susie O’Konek, Judie Rose and Sandy Sanderson."

The catch & release tournament winners included: 1st place: Marv Moyer from Andover with a 6.5 lb Walleye 2nd place: Tom Smith from Buffalo with a 4.3 lb Walleye 3rd place: Don Marschel from Buffalo with a 4.2 lb Walleye 1st place: Robert Dongoski from Buffalo with a 2.23 lb Bass 2nd place: Robert Dongoski from Buffalo with a 2.21 lb Bass 3rd place: Joe Marx from Clearwater with a 1.96 lb Bass

While there was a Northern category, no Northern Pickerel were caught during the tournament.

To date, the Heart Safe Communities Program has placed more than 160 AEDs throughout Wright County and the surrounding communities. The upgraded device placement will include all Wright County squads, as well as police department squads in Buffalo, Annandale and Howard Lake. For more information about Heart Safe Communities or to make a donations to this noteworthy cause, please call Kelly Lewis, Heart Safe Communities coordinator for Buffalo Hospital and Allina Medical Transportation at 763-684-6603 or visit www.buffalohospital.org.

Fishing tournament raises $29,000

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