
The foundation aims to raise awareness of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Very few people are aware of the condition, making detection and prevention extremely difficult. By educating the community about the risks, the Joshua Caruso Foundation hopes to empower community members to act quickly in emergency situations.
The Foundation is working toward a $100,000 goal. This money will go toward providing defibrillators for sports clubs and schools in the Newcastle and Hunter region.
Sport is often a trigger for those with HCM. Cases of sudden death among HCM sufferers often occur during exercise, or shortly afterwards. HCM is the most common cause of sudden death in young athletes.
With access to defibrillators, sports clubs are able to administer potentially life-saving first aid in an emergency. During a life-threatening cardiac arrest, a defibrillator (in combination with CPR) is vital to survival. The device delivers electric shocks, jumpstarting the heart and helping return it to a regular rhythm. Defibrillators are expensive, and so many clubs don’t have access to this life saving technology. The minutes spent waiting for an ambulance could be the difference between a full recovery and a tragic outcome.
100 defibrillators donated goal
Defibrillator Recipients Honour Role
Schools
St Frances Xavier Belmont
St Marys College Gateshead
St Francis Xavier College Hamilton
Maitland Diocese Catholic Schools Office
Waratah Public School
Holy Family Primary School Merewether
St Josephs Primary School The Junction
Belmont High School
Floraville Public School
West Wallsend High School
Mount View High School
St Josephs Killaben Bay
St Pauls Booragul
Hunter Sports high School
Hunter School of Performing Arts
Kotara High School
Kurri Kurri High School
Raymond Terrace High School
Whitebridge High School
Sporting Groups
Wallsend Touch Football
Newcastle Touch
Crossfit Horizons
Valentine Junior Rugby League
Souths Junior Rugby League
Lakes United Rugby League
Newcastle Jockey Club
Cardiff South Soccer
Newcastle Netball Association
Charlestown Netball Association
West Junior Rugby League
Hamilton Rugby Union
Edgeworth Eagle Football Club
Belmont Football Club
Valentine Eleebana Football Club
Wallsend Swans Jnr AFL
Warners Bay AFL
Scone Thoroughbreds Football Club
Scone Touch Football
West Wallsend Soccer Club
Cooks Hill United Football Club